Mikel Arteta insists that Arsenal's expected signing of Ebereechi Eze is not a response to the injury of Kai Havertz.
The Gunners have an agreement to sign the Crystal Palace in a deal with a value of approximately £ 68 million. He is expected to be completed today.
Rivals Tottenham Spurs had agreed on Wednesday with Eze, where the player wanted to complete the move before Arsenal came in.
That was just a few hours after Havertz missed the open training session because of a knee injury that he had picked up against Manchester United on Sunday.
In anticipation of the Premier League match of the Gunners against Leeds on Saturday, Arteta said: 'I think it was very clear what I said that the (transfer company) was not ready.
'Of course we were very active to look at the possibilities that could come. We don't respond to anything, we are very prepared and understand what we could do, and we have decided that this is the time to do it. '
When he was specifically pressed on Eze, he said, “I can never talk about a player who is not part of our group, our club, so no comments on that.”
At the havertz injury, he added: 'Well, certainly not suitable for this competition. Unfortunately he has taken an injury and we don't really know its size yet. I think we need a little more time and more tests and then we have more clarity about the next steps.
'He is in a good place mentally. He is really a strong boy, very dedicated.
“Like you said, he had an incredible recovery of hamstring operation. I think he has never had an injury before, so it was really a first experience. Now he has a setback. Let's see how bad it is, but I am sure he will go in the best possible way. Like I said, he has the joy of a child and hopefully we will have him soon. '