Mikel Arteta breaks silence on Arsenal's pursuit of Eberechi Eze as club close in on signing £68m star - and gives injury update on Kai Havertz

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal's expected signing of Eberechi Eze is not a reaction to Kai Havertz's injury.

The Gunners have an agreement in place to sign the Crystal Palace forward in a deal worth around £68million. He is expected to complete his medical today.

Rivals Tottenham Spurs had agreed terms with Eze on Wednesday, with the player keen to finalise the move, before Arsenal swooped in.

That was just hours after Havertz missed on open training session because of a knee injury he picked up against Manchester United on Sunday.

Ahead of the Gunners' Premier League match against Leeds on Saturday, Arteta said: 'I think it was very clear what I said that it (transfer business) wasn't done.

'Obviously we were very active trying to look at the possibilities that could come. We are not reacting to anything, we've been very prepared and understanding what we could do, and we have decided this is the moment to do it.'

When pressed on Eze specifically, he said: 'I can never talk about any player that is not part of our group, our club yet, so no comment on that.'

On Havertz's injury, he added: 'Well, certainly not fit for this match. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury and we don't really know yet the extent of it. I think we need a bit more time and some more tests and after that we'll have more clarity about the next steps.

'Mentally he's in a good place. He's a really strong boy, very committed.

'As you said, he had an incredible recovery from the hamstring surgery. I think he never had an injury before, so it was a first experience really. Now he's got a setback. Let's see how bad it is, but I'm sure he's going to deal in the best possible way. As I said, he has the joy of a kid and hopefully we're going to have him soon.'