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Since joining Arsenal in 2023, Kai Havertz has enjoyed some great runs of form in front of goal, showcasing deadly finishing to lead his side's attack, but recent performances have shown that he can't be the spearhead forever.
The German returned from illness to return to the starting XI for the Gunners' 2-0 loss to Newcastle and that was where his struggles in front of goal really began. Havertz couldn't improve on that performance as he put in another poor showing in Sunday's FA Cup defeat to Manchester United, missing a number of chances to win the game.
Despite being his side's top goalscorer so far this season with 12 goals in all competitions, Havertz has simultaneously shown that he can't be relied on to lead Arsenal's attack forever.
Kai Havertz has shown he can't lead Arsenal's attack forever
Havertz is not a natural striker, starting his career as a midfielder (or raumdeuter) at Bayer Leverkusen before being used in a more attacking role at Chelsea. After a series of indecisions regarding the German's position, Mikel Arteta eventually decided to use him as a striker at the start of 2024.
He impressed in the role last season, scoring 14 goals to finish as the club's third-highest goalscorer. Arteta opted against signing a striker last summer and chose to continue with Havertz as the leading light of the Gunners' attack. The German had performed so well down the stretch last term that not too many questioned Arsenal's unwillingness to pursue a Benjamin Sesko alternative heading into 2024/25.
Havertz has continued to display his finishing ability this campaign, netting 12 goals to make him the club's current highest scorer. However, a drop in form has now seen him look incapable of putting the ball in the back of the net.
Against Newcastle, Havertz put in a miserable performance in attack; missing one big chance and failing to score from an xG of 1.11. He also lost ten duels, the most out of any player on the pitch.
The Germany international did not make amends against Manchester United, producing an arguably worse display. Havertz missed two big chances, hit the target once from four shots and couldn't convert in the penalty shootout. His disappointing showing was highlighted by a failure to score from an xG of 1.98 (including his shootout miss).
Kai Havertz scored 0 goals from 1.98(xG) this evening (including his penalty miss in the shoot-out).
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) January 12, 2025
Havertz's poor form in front of goal stretches beyond his past two games, with his worst statistics coming from the competition he should be offering the most in: the Premier League. He has put just 16 of his 32 shots on target with his shot accuracy of 50% ranking him in the 70th percentile of players in the league. His accuracy is the joint fourth-worst out of all players to net at least five goals in England's top division this season.
While Havertz has outperformed his xG of 9.8 in all competitions, he has slightly underwhelmed in the league. He has scored seven goals from an xG of 7.8 and underperformed in eight of his 17 league appearances this season. Simply put, Havertz is not the ruthless killer in front of goal capable of lifting Arsenal to a league title.
The German's issues as a striker don't just lie with his goalscoring. He hasn't been particularly effective functioning as Arteta's tactical Swiss Army knife either. Havertzhas won just 39.5% of his duels and 45.2% in the air so far this league campaign, a worrying decrease to his respective 47.2% and 50% (aerial) success last term. Havertz has often used his physicality and 6ft 4in height to trouble defenders but he doesn't seem to be doing so this season.
His positioning has also been a problem. Havertz is very much relied on as Arsenal's main goalscorer but he does like to have a walkabout on the pitch. In recent games, he has shown a desire to drift out onto the right wing. By all means, display versatility and get involved in the build-up but being his side's best goalscorer, Havertz must be making himself an option in the box during attacking situations, not dilly-dallying on the wing.
Through varying factors, Kai Havertz has shown that he can't lead Arsenal's attack forever. His issues in front of goal do not vouch in his favour and his lack of aggression and desire to take up other positions demonstrate he is not worthy of leading the line for Arsenal. There is no denying that he is a reliable goalscorer but he has now shown he can not be depended on consistently.
With Havertz now being the Gunners' only fit senior striker option due to Gabriel Jesus' injury, all fingers are pointing once again to the severe and indisputable need to sign a new centre forward.