Arsenal’s Striker Dilemma: Why Arteta Should Keep Backing Havertz Ahead of Liverpool

Arsenal’s title challenge has been built on defensive organisation and midfield control, but as Sunday’s trip to Anfield approaches, the most pressing question for Mikel Arteta is not tactical—it is numerical. Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres have not scored a Premier League goal between them since early September, leaving Arsenal’s attack dangerously dependent on players whose primary job is not to finish.

While the Gunners sit level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table and have won all but one of their eight league games, Sunday’s meeting with Liverpool serves as a stark reminder of what is missing. Arsenal have assembled formidable resources in defence and midfield, yet they still lack a world-class goalscorer capable of converting dominance into results against the league’s best sides.

A Title Challenge Built on Defence, Not Goals

The statistics make for uncomfortable reading at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal’s defenders have scored more goals in all competitions than their strikers, a damning indicator nearly three months into the season. Havertz, Arteta’s first-choice frontman since returning from injury last season, has played 561 minutes—more than nine hours—without finding the net in any competition.

Gyokeres finally broke his seasonal duck in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out loss to Fleetwood Town, bundling in Arsenal’s equaliser from close range. Yet even that goal masked a broader struggle. The Sweden international has mustered only one shot, a header against Nottingham Forest, in 148 Premier League minutes, and has failed to register a shot at all in 160 minutes of Champions League football.

For now, the lack of goals from Arsenal’s strikers has not derailed their campaign. They remain in the title mix and have taken seven points from a possible nine in Europe. But Arteta will be acutely aware that sustaining a strong start becomes exponentially harder if the front line continues to misfire.

Why Havertz Remains Arteta’s Best Option

Havertz appeared to pick up where he left off at the start of the campaign. He started and scored in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in May, then added Premier League goals against Coventry and his former club Chelsea after netting in the Community Shield against Manchester City. Since that early burst, though, the form has evaporated.

His wasteful display against Fleetwood, when he failed to score from seven shots, frustrated supporters. Yet Brentford owner Matthew Benham’s earlier assessment offers useful context: “For a striker, getting in position is way more informative than finishing.” By that measure, Havertz still offers more than most.

A comparison of their last two Premier League starts against Liverpool illustrates the contrast. Gyokeres registered no shots in either game, combining for just 25 touches with only four inside Liverpool’s box, 11 passes, and three duels won. Havertz, by contrast, did not score in those fixtures either—during the 2-2 draw in October 2024 and the 3-1 win in February—but he caused constant problems. He managed five shots worth 1.22 expected goals, 14 touches in the box, and 80 total touches, more than three times Gyokeres’ volume. He also made more passes, created more chances, won more duels, and regained possession more often.

Havertz’s ability to combine with teammates, interchange positions, and help construct attacks makes Arsenal far more fluid in the final third. It helps explain why their open-play threat has increased this season even as the striker’s goal drought continues. Arteta could turn to Mikel Merino as a makeshift option, but Havertz remains the most likely candidate on Sunday given the breadth of what he brings. A first goal since September would be timely.

Gyokeres Has Yet to Find His Range

Gyokeres can point to a decent scoring record, including a 14-goal Premier League return last season, but none of those came against opponents of Liverpool’s calibre. That is why Arteta may hesitate to start him at Anfield. The striker has failed to register a shot in eight Premier League starts, the second-highest total of any out-and-out forward since the start of last season, behind only Randal Kolo Muani.

Arsenal tried to address the issue in the summer but, after unsuccessful pursuits of high-profile forward targets, opted to stick with what they had. They hoped Havertz could stay fit and Gyokeres could build on a promising first season at the club. So far, neither hope has fully materialised.

The Forward Investment Gap

The shortage of a natural goalscorer is partly a result of how funds have been allocated. Since Arteta’s appointment in 2019, Arsenal have spent only £224.5m on forwards compared with £550.1m on midfielders and £350m on defenders. The club has built formidable resources at the back and in the middle of the park, but the attacking end remains a work in progress.

Araujo Earns Liverpool’s Defensive Trust

While Arsenal wrestle with their attacking conundrum, Liverpool have found a solution in defence. Ronald Araujo, the summer signing, produced another excellent performance in the Carabao Cup win over Chelsea, making 10 of the team’s 15 clearances as his side progressed. He was similarly effective in the 2-0 win over Brighton last weekend, drawing roars of approval from the Anfield crowd with crunching tackles.

Virgil van Dijk highlighted the impact of that energy: “When you see someone like Ronald making challenges, being aggressive at the right times, everyone responds and that energy can help the team going forward.”

Araujo is a natural centre-back but has mostly been deployed at right-back, a relatively unfamiliar role in which he has still made a substantial contribution. He scored in Liverpool’s Champions League wins over LASK and Villarreal and would have added a third against Chelsea if not for a superb save from Mike Penders. The cumulative impression is overwhelmingly positive.

Around the Premier League This Weekend

Player Radar: Amar Dedic and Others to Watch

Newcastle face Everton on Monday having beaten Crystal Palace thanks in part to full-back Amar Dedic, who had a hand in both goals and now has four assists in eight games this term. He is one to watch as the weekend’s live coverage concludes on Monday Night Football.

Live Radar: Sky Sports Weekend Fixtures

Four Premier League games are live on Sky Sports this weekend. Coverage begins with Tottenham versus Crystal Palace on Saturday at 5.30pm, followed by Aston Villa versus Fulham at 8pm. On Sunday, Liverpool versus Arsenal headlines the action with a 4.30pm kick-off. The weekend ends on Monday Night Football, when Newcastle United take on Everton at 8pm.

Conclusion: Sunday Is a Test of Arsenal’s Attacking Identity

Sunday’s showdown at Anfield will tell us a great deal about where Arsenal stand as genuine title contenders. Defensively, they are well equipped, and Araujo’s emergence gives Liverpool added resilience at the back. Offensively, however, Arteta must decide whether to persist with Havertz’s all-around link-up play or give Gyokeres another opportunity to end his goal drought.

The underlying message is clear: possession and defensive solidity will only carry Arsenal so far. Against Liverpool, and in the weeks that follow, the Gunners need their strikers to start taking the positions—and, crucially, the chances—that decide matches at this level.

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