With a fit-again Kai Havertz challenging Viktor Gyokeres’s starting spot, Mikel Arteta must choose between tactical fluidity and raw physical presence to spearhead the Gunners' title defense.
One of the big dilemmas Mikel Arteta has to overcome is the debate over whether Kai Havertz or Viktor Gyokeres should be starting more frequently up front this season.
Arsenal bought Viktor Gyokeres in the summer of 2025 for an initial fee of £55m that if certain conditions were met, can rise as high as £64m from Sporting CP, Portugal. Kai Havertz picked up a significant knee injury in Arsenal’s 0-1 victory over Manchester United on the opening day of the 2025/26 season. An injury which for the German, later required surgery.
Bringing in Gyokeres after such a blow to Havertz was essential for Arsenal, whose biggest critics rested their title hopes on bringing in a number 9 whose goals could fire them to a first Premier League title since 2003/04, in a similar fashion that Erling Haaland had done at Manchester City.
Gyokeres took a while to find his feet, but crucial goals helped to fire Arsenal to their first title in 26 years. Perhaps not in the dominating number 9 fashion many had envisaged, but memorable goals including a brilliant brace in a 1-4 win over bitter rivals Tottenham saw the big Swede end the campaign on 21 goals and 3 assists in 55 appearances in all competitions, including 14 goals and 1 assist in his debut Premier League campaign. The 28 year old proved to be an issue for opposition defenders on the occasions that he was getting in behind, but also proved his hold up play to be one of his biggest assets. Perhaps a slight decline in Martin Odegaard’s form saw Gyokeres to not be as big of a threat in behind as we were used to seeing at Sporting CP with a lack of service to blame, though there were glimpses of what could still come in North London last season.
On the contrary, Kai Havertz seems to be a fan favourite and the man that Arteta called on in some key occasions. None more so than the Champions League final in which the German scored the opening goal of the game to put Arsenal 1-0 up. There is no doubt that Havertz gives Arteta more tactical flexibility when he is on the pitch. Although less of a runner in behind than Gyokeres, Havertz has the ability to drift off the shoulder of the last defender, take the ball to feet or even drop into the midfield on occasions and join attacks with late runs from deep. The 27 year-old also poses a considerable threat in the air, scoring some monumental headers in his Arsenal career to date. Perhaps none more so than the header from the corner that saw Arsenal run out 1-0 winners against Burnley in a crucial game towards the end of last season.
Arsenal kickstart their Premier League campaign on Friday 21st August at Emirates Stadium as they welcome top flight newcomers Coventry City. The question remains to be seen as to who starts up front on Friday night, but if the recent Community Shield victory over Manchester City is to go by, then it is likely we will see Kai Havertz leading the line against Frank Lampard’s men.
Kai Havertz celebrates putting Arsenal 2-0 up against Manchester City in the Community Shield Final at The Principality Stadium (Action Images via Reuters)
Kai Havertz celebrates putting Arsenal 2-0 up against Manchester City in the Community Shield Final at The Principality Stadium (Action Images via Reuters)
Although a difficult decision for Arteta to make, having both Havertz and Gyokeres in your armoury is something that many managers could only dream of. There is no doubt both will have huge parts to play in the 2026/27 if Arsenal are to defend their crown and Arsenal’s title winning Spanish manager is more likely than ever to rotate based on opponents, tactics and formation preference. Perhaps the question for Arsenal's boss isn’t Havertz or Gyokeres, but which of the two is able to give him the desired effect on a game to game basis. Playing in all 4 competitions, Arsenal could play over 55 games this season, so there is no doubt both will have their chances to impress on the biggest stage.