Viktor Gyokeres was dropped by Mikel Arteta against Manchester City as Kai Havertz started up top for Arsenal
Kai Havertz starting the most important game of Arsenal’s season at centre-forward over Viktor Gyokeres is a massive indictment of both the recruitment and the outcome of the signing. The Swede is the Gunners’ top scorer with 18 goals so far this season.
However, the scrutiny of whether his signing has been a success or not remains very much open. The fan base has a spectrum of viewpoints on the player, with some willing to give the 27-year-old the benefit of the doubt in his first season at one end, and at the other, some who would happily cut ties this summer and pretend the move never happened.
Havertz’s selection on Sunday, however, was definitely a significant moment in time for both Gyokeres and Mikel Arteta. It is well documented that the Spaniard was keener on the now-Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko.
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The 22-year-old also has endured some difficulties at Old Trafford and there is little evidence that he would have exceeded what Gyokeres has achieved so far in north London. Eight goals fewer this season, although he has played around half the number of minutes, too.
Additionally, he has nine goals in the Premier League, just three fewer than Gyokeres, playing for a Manchester United side who, for the most part, have failed to impress despite somehow sitting third in the table. He has hit form of late with five in his last ten league games under Michael Carrick.
Gyokeres’ main strength is his finishing. In the box, the Swede can be lethal, and he demonstrated that for his country as he led Sweden to the World Cup, scoring four across the two final play-off qualification matches.
Yet the argument is that this “main strength” is rather his only footballing strength. He has remained fit, runs the whole game and fights hard, but the longer any discussion surrounding Gyokeres goes on, his technical level quickly comes into focus.
Zero shots in the five appearances against Liverpool and Manchester City this season, while Havertz, in just one game against City this weekend, had two big chances and scored the equaliser. Many, rightfully, bemoan Havertz’s lack of consistent clinical finishing, which proved costly on Sunday.
But it is Havertz’s all-around game and his presence in the side which just makes Arsenal tick better. From a goal contribution standpoint, Gyokeres has returned either a goal or an assist at a rate of 0.43. (18G and 2A in 46 games)
Havertz, on the other hand, when playing centre-forward in 2024/25, did so at a rate of 0.55 (11G and 5A in 29 games) and 0.88 (8G and 7A in 17 games) in 2023/24. The currently injured Mikel Merino managed four goals and three assists in 11 appearances at centre-forward, a rate of 0.64 this season.
When required to come in for the injured Havertz and Gabriel Jesus last season, Merino returned six goals and three assists in 12 games, a rate of 0.75. The reality is that Gyokeres has neither contributed enough this season nor, beyond being fit and available, lacked the all-around game to suit Arteta’s desires.
But is that his fault? Andrea Berta was the main driver behind the move for the centre-forward, and alongside Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke, there are questions emerging over effectively half of the players signed last summer.
Some might say it is easy to say this in hindsight but, bluntly, that truly is when you can assess signings, after the fact rather than before the evidence. Whatever may happen in these remaining games and regardless of whether Arsenal are crowned champions, some big upgrades are needed this summer, predominantly in the forward line.
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