Arsenal face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on New Year's Day, but the Gunners will do so without Kai Havertz.

Mikel Arteta has responded to rumours of an Arsenal sickness bug after Kai Havertz was left out of the squad who beat Brentford on Wednesday. Havertz was a surprise omission on New Year’s Day given he had started and scored in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory against Ipswich Town on December 27.

Arsenal came from behind to beat Brentford 3-1 and move to second in the table, but Mikel Arteta has revealed a bug ran through his squad prior to kick off.

Arsenal take on Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium this evening but are without Kai Havertz due to an illness, according to the Sun journalist Jordan Davies. The Germany international has been a

Midfielder-cum-forward Havertz is a surprise absentee from The Gunners’ squad against Brentford, joining fellow attacker Bukaya Saka on the sidelines.

Kai Havertz has been sidelined with an illness that ruled him out of Wednesday’s Premier League trip to Brentford for Arsenal. Reports that a sickness bug has been going around the Gunners squad

Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, has revealed the reason he left Kai Havertz out of the Gunners' matchday squad for the Premier League match against Brentford

Follow live as Arsenal host Ipswich Town looking to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool

Arsenal news as Kai Havertz misses the New Year's Day trip to Brentford with his absence explained after unexpected selection