Arsenal's Kai Havertz replacement decided after injury blow as Mikel Arteta's strongest XI made clear
Kai Havertz is an Arsenal injury concern(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal star Kai Havertz is an injury concern after being forced to leave Germany's national team camp. It comes after he suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of Thursday's Nations League draw against the Netherlands.
There is said to be optimism the issue sustained by Havertz is not serious, but the forward has been forced to return to north London for an assessment. The Gunners will now be hoping that Havertz returns for Arsenal's next fixture at home to Leeds United on October 10.
Not only did he contribute to the Gunners' Premier League success last season, but he also netted in the Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Since his switch from Chelsea, Havertz has recorded 39 goals across 118 appearances in all competitions.
The 27-year-old has furthermore scored 25 goals in 63 caps for his nation. But if he is not fit for the Leeds game, who could take his place? Below, writers at football.london have had their say...
It will be hard to see anyway back for Viktor Gyokeres if Arteta is forced to replace Havertz and doesn't put the Swede upfront. The former Sporting star has been a backup option and many understand why.
But surely he starts against Leeds if Havertz is injured. Mikel Merino would be the ultimate insult even if the midfielder has had success up-front before.
Gyokeres at least offers a physical presence and can bully the Leeds defenders - offering space for players like Saka and Odegaard. Any other pick and a January exit would surely beckon for the Sweden international.
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Mikel Arteta has to start Viktor Gyokeres in the stead of Kai Havertz. The hope will be the hamstring issue is not too serious with apparent early optimism, however, the other option, no matter how valid, is not an orthodox striker no matter how convincing Mikel Merino might be sometimes.
The Spaniard has an excellent record in the role, and is even more consistent delivering than Havertz and Gyokeres when played there. However, the potential negative impact of starting Merino over Gyokeres is perhaps more worrisome than playing Gyokeres, whose form might be in question.
Gyokeres scored three goals in his two games against Leeds United last season, and with Daniel Farke’s side their next opponent, it could be the perfect game to kickstart Gyokeres’ season.
For me, Viktor Gyokeres has to start for Arsenal now that Kai Havertz is injured. The Swede has been a back-up option so far this season but showed glimpses of what he is about during his first season in north London.
He even scored three times in two matches against Arsenal's next opponents Leeds United last season and they could be the perfect opponent for the former Sporting CP man to get his mojo back.
If it doesn't work out for Gyokeres now, I can't see a way back for him at the Emirates. He has to prove why Arsenal paid big money for him in the next couple of matches while Havertz is out.
Another option for Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, is to start Mikel Merino up front but I feel he should be an option from the bench for now, unless Gyokeres isn't firing in front of goal.
It does feel like it’s a straight shootout between Viktor Gyokeres and Mikel Merino on who will replace Havertz if he is unavailable. For me, I would sway towards starting Gyokeres.
While he has been criticised for his performances, last season still saw him score 21 goals in all competitions, and 14 in the Premier League, which isn’t bad going for his first season in the division.
So far this season, he has found game time hard to come by, which isn’t ideal when a striker is trying to find rhythm and confidence. Giving him a run of games would be a good move should Havertz be out for a period of time.
Gyokeres will add more of a presence up top than Merino. The Spaniard could then replace him in the second half and exploit tired defenders.
It's a no-brainer for Viktor Gyokeres to come into the side in place of Kai Havertz. Sure, Mikel Arteta has the option to play Mikel Merino through the middle, but the Swedish forward should get the nod.
Gyokeres ended the season strongly and looked to be finding a new level before the summer interval. He's also scored three goals against Leeds United which bodes well for the return to domestic action.
Arsenal will be hoping that Havertz's injury isn't too severe, but it presents the Gunners boss with an opportunity to utilise an out-and-out striker through the middle.
For me, I’d like to see Gyokeres start up front, particularly given that this was the role he had been filling before Kai Havertz moved ahead of him. Rather than immediately turning to Mikel Merino from the start, I’d keep the Spaniard as an option from the bench.
Merino has shown time and again that he can have a huge influence on games when introduced later on, whether that is through his physical presence, his ability to attack the box or simply his knack for being in the right place at the right time. Of course, that does not mean Arteta cannot change things if he feels Gyokeres is not making enough of an impact when given the opportunity to start.
The manager has options at his disposal and will ultimately have to find the solution that works best for the team. In the meantime, Arsenal will be hoping Havertz's injury is not too serious, with the forward expected to play an important role as they look to defend their Premier League title and make it back-to-back championships.
Bruna is an experienced journalist and Audience Writer who began her career at the Birmingham Mail in 2021. With a strong passion for football, she has covered a wide range of Championship fixtures for regional publications and developed a reputation for sharp, engaging sports coverage. Bruna's fluency in Portuguese and her strong grasp of Spanish give her a valuable edge in football journalism, giving her direct access to leagues, players, and storylines that many reporters can't easily reach. After three years in regional news, she moved to the Sports Hub, contributing to national outlets including The Mirror and The Express. Over the past 26 months, Bruna has been part of the Sport Central Audience team, producing content for major national and regional titles such as The Manchester Evening News, The Liverpool Echo, Wales Online and football.london.
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