A Gyokeres-Havertz axis was not in Arsenal’s grand plan. But they might just have stumbled upon a handy solution to unlock their faltering attack.
As Daily Mail Sport previously revealed, it was Kai Havertz, not Viktor Gyokeres, who was meant to be Arsenal’s No 1 striker this season, with the Gunners’ new £64million Swede set to be eased back in to English football and picked on a horses-for-courses basis depending on the opposition — at least for the first few months.
And Mikel Arteta definitely did not intend to field the pair together — you only have to glance at the Spaniard’s six-year tenure to know that deploying two strikers is not a preferred setup.
Yet, by accident or necessity, here we are. On seven occasions this season, the unlikely couple of a wiry German and a Swedish battering ram have found themselves up front together, offering a fresh new look to a front line that has wilted since the turn of the year as the heat of the run-in ratchets up.
Havertz earned the plaudits for his injury-time winner against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday, calmly latching onto Gabriel Martinelli’s delicate pass to finish past Rui Silva. But the goal was made possible by Gyokeres’ smart run which pulled the centre backs out of position, creating the space for Havertz to exploit. On a difficult night personally, it was a decisive contribution for Gyokeres. The kind of which goes unnoticed, but matters.
It followed Havertz’s assist for his Swedish team-mate in the 2-1 defeat to Southampton. The understanding is still forming, though the signs — Gyokeres stretching play and Havertz finding the pockets of space left behind — were there.
It was Viktor Gyokeres’ clever run late on in Lisbon that drew both centre backs away from Kai Havertz (right), so the German could slot in a winning goal for Arsenal
Gyokeres was battling against the defence of his former club and found little personal joy, but opened up the spaces for others
As pair, they complement each other well, with Gyokeres benefitting in particular. With Havertz alongside him, he has seen an increase in his goals per 90 (from 0.5 to 1.1), shots per 90 (from 2.2 to 3.0) and shots on target (0.9 to 1.9).
Havertz gets a small boost, too, with his goals per 90 (from 0.5 to 0.8) and shots on target (0.9 to 1.1) on the up, though his shots per 90 falls significantly (from 2.6 to 1.5).
Why does it work? For starters, there is a blend to their qualities. Havertz thrives in linking play and arriving late, Gyokeres offers physicality and a constant willingness to run beyond. Separately, they have had their moments. Together, they are beginning to make more sense.
Arteta revealed on Monday that it was in December 2024 when he and Arsenal zeroed in on Gyokeres to complement Havertz, who had shouldered the vast majority of the attacking burden in the last two years with the likes of Gabriel Jesus often injured and Eddie Nketiah sold.
But the depth Arteta had craved for some time was wiped out immediately – Havertz suffering a knee injury on the opening day at Manchester United on August 17, meaning Gyokeres would not be eased in at all.
It started off ponderously, the ex-Sporting man often going missing in games, struggling to a forge a connection with team-mates who were seemingly unable to anticipate his runs or find the striker around the area. In Havertz, he might finally have found a player he can link up with.
The first time they started together was January 28 against Kairat Almaty in the Champions League, and within 15 minutes they had assisted each other. Three days later Arteta stuck with them in the 4-0 win over Leeds, where they were effective without being spectacular.
Since then, the likes of Eberechi Eze and Martin Odegaard have reasserted themselves, and Havertz and Gyokeres have only started together once — the drab Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City on March 22, when Eze and Odegaard were both injured.
Havertz and Gyokeres’ burgeoning partnership offers Arsenal a new dimension as they look to find more attacking fluidity in the run-in
Havertz was meant to be Mikel Arteta’s first-choice No 9 this season – but has now found a new role after an injury-plagued campaign
Instead, they have been limited to late bursts together, such as those at Southampton and Sporting in the last week. Club captain Odegaard remains one of Arteta’s most trust lieutenants and there are also practical considerations.
Havertz’s knee requires careful management and his minutes are limited as a result. It also means he is being deployed deeper, preserving his physical load while still contributing creatively – but that, in itself, may be part of the solution. It allows Gyokeres to remain the focal point while Havertz operates with freedom.
A partnership that once looked like a contingency plan is beginning to resemble a viable alternative.
In a season that may yet be decided by fine margins, Arteta has, perhaps unexpectedly, uncovered a new dynamic at just the right time.
