Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was effusive in his praise of Kai Havertz following his return against Portsmouth at the weekend.
The substitute appearance in the FA Cup third round tie was the German’s first piece of action since the opening day win over Manchester United in August, but Arteta claims you can already see what he can bring to the table:
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“The last few minutes [against Portsmouth], I was just watching him move and his awareness, the way he needs to move, when he needs to move in relation to where he moves, it’s just a joy to watch.”
“We’ve missed him big time; he’s back with us, and now we need to maintain him on the field because he’s a very important player for us.”
Arteta’s remarks raise questions about another Arsenal forward
There is no doubt that Viktor Gyokeres is on borrowed time. He has continued to struggle when leading the line for the Gunners, with the latest performance during the 0-0 draw against Liverpool last week seeing him touch the ball just 8 times.
Havertz’s return to full fitness and his manager’s glowing appraisal mean it is likely that the £65m forward will get the nod to start ahead of Gyokeres sooner rather than later.
When could Havertz get his first start?
The 26-year-old was given just over 20 minutes at Fratton Park on Sunday, so there is little to no chance that he will be named in the starting lineup to face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup this evening.
If Havertz can get more time off the bench versus the Blues, though, there is a possibility that he could displace Gyokeres for the next Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest or, potentially, the Champions League clash versus Inter Milan next week.
Read more about the Arsenal First Team Squad for 2025/26 here