Arsenal face the possibility of losing Kai Havertz from their next Premier League clash after the Burnley game due to suspension, which could compound with injury concerns to add to Mikel Arteta's growing selection headaches. The Gunners have been desperately battling to keep players fit during an intense part of the fixture schedule.

Constant switching between Premier League games at the weekend and one of the Champions League or Carabao Cup in midweek has brought up fitness concerns. Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe are four stars that are guaranteed to miss the clash with Burnley on Saturday.

Meanwhile there are doubts for Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Takehiro Tomiyasu as they race against time in the hopes of playing on Saturday. It leaves Arteta questioning which team may be best to offer a blend of quality to beat the opposition without risking an injury.

With the November international break coming shortly after the match, it may well be the perfect time to recoup and go again over a busy Christmas schedule. That kicks off with Brentford after the two-week break, however Havertz could add yet another dilemma for that game.

That being due to his disciplinary record following on from the match with Newcastle where he was given a yellow card for a rash challenge that was reviewed for a red card but decided against. That tackle may not have put Havertz on the sidelines through suspension, but he is now walking a tightrope in that regard.

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The German international now has four yellow cards to his name, with one more resulting in a one match ban for players that reach the tally. If he were to pick that up on Saturday, it would see him miss the clash with Brentford and adds yet another absence to the growing list.

Despite growing concerns over his performances, Arteta came to the midfielder's defence in his pre-match press conference as he told reporters: "I can tell you that I am really pleased with the way he is performing. Looking at just the specific numbers of what he is producing in front of goal does have to improve and we have to improve them but in many other areas of the pitch what he gives to the pitch at the moment is really important."

If Havertz wishes to avoid the suspension and continue doing the things his manager asks of him, then he will have to be at his most cautious as there are still eight games in the Premier League until the yellow card threshold increases. It remains to be seen whether he will reach that point in the coming games, but many will be hopeful he avoids anything too rash.