Arteta backs Kai Havertz for 30-goal Arsenal season
Kai Havertz is expected to start through the middle when Arsenal visit Nottingham Forest on Sunday, with Mikel Arteta convinced the Germany international has the potential to reach a 30-goal season if he is given sustained minutes and regular involvement.
Arteta backs Havertz to convert promise into volume
Havertz, 27, has begun every Premier League fixture for the reigning champions this season and scored twice in the opening three matches. He has since gone five games without a goal, but Arteta has not altered his view of the forward’s importance or ceiling.
“He has the capacity to do it,” Arteta said of a possible 30-goal campaign. “That is one of the reasons he plays in that role and why we brought him in. He needs a high number of matches and actions, and with that opportunity I strongly believe he can reach it.”
Arsenal signed Havertz from Chelsea in 2023. He registered 14 goals in his first campaign at the Emirates Stadium, followed by 15 the next year. A hamstring problem kept him out for the final four months of that second season, while hamstring and knee issues then limited him to 24 appearances in all competitions last term, when he scored seven times.
Arteta believes Havertz’s ability to process the game gives him a distinctive advantage as a central striker. The Arsenal manager said the forward’s football intelligence was exceptional, adding that he can absorb and interpret information faster than almost anyone in the squad.
Return from injury remains part of the assessment
Arteta also stressed that Havertz’s recent injury record must be considered when judging his output. Returning to top-level football after a prolonged absence can require time, he said, although Havertz had looked close to his best from pre-season onwards.
The manager praised the German’s mentality and said he values him highly, indicating that the current goalless run has not changed Arsenal’s selection plan for the trip to the City Ground.
- Havertz scored 14 times during his first Arsenal season after arriving from Chelsea in 2023.
- He added 15 goals in the following campaign before a hamstring injury ruled him out for its last four months.
- Hamstring and knee setbacks restricted him to 24 appearances and seven goals across all competitions last season.
- He opened the present league season with two goals in three games, before a five-match scoreless spell.
- He is in line to lead Arsenal’s attack against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Gyökeres remains an alternative despite difficult start
Viktor Gyökeres has fallen behind Havertz in the current attacking order. The Sweden international made only his third start of the season in Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with Lille, but was substituted midway through the second half after making limited impact.
Gyökeres has not scored in seven appearances this season, despite his prolific record at Sporting Lisbon, where he produced 97 goals in 102 matches. He also scored 21 times in his first Arsenal campaign.
Asked whether the striker’s confidence had been affected, Arteta declined to give a direct personal assessment. Instead, he pointed to Gyökeres’s determination, daily work and desire to improve and contribute to the side.
Arteta said the forward remains an option regardless of whether he is scoring, and that Arsenal are working to support him. He added that Gyökeres has had positive passages in games, with narrow moments often determining whether the discussion centres on a goal or a missed chance.
Key takeaways
- Havertz is set to retain the No. 9 role against Nottingham Forest despite five matches without scoring.
- Arteta sees a 30-goal season as achievable for Havertz with enough games and attacking actions.
- Havertz’s recent fitness issues have affected his output, but Arsenal believe his pre-season return showed strong progress.
- Gyökeres remains goalless after seven appearances and was replaced during Tuesday’s match against Lille.
- Arteta continues to back Gyökeres’s attitude and regards him as a viable selection option.
