Mikel Arteta is facing a welcome selection headache as Kai Havertz nears a return to full fitness, casting fresh doubt over the faltering form of summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.
Havertz Set for Crucial Comeback
The Arsenal manager has confirmed he expects to have the German international available for selection when the Gunners travel to face Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round this Sunday. Havertz has not played since the opening weekend of the season, making a brief substitute appearance against Manchester United before undergoing what the club termed 'minor' knee surgery at the end of August.
His recovery was delayed by a setback, but he returned to the squad for the Aston Villa match in late December. Subsequent absences against Bournemouth and Liverpool were attributed to careful load management rather than a new injury.
"If everything goes well, I think so," Arteta stated regarding Havertz's availability. "He trains well, he’s increased his load, he’s coping with that really well. And it will be great if we can have him."
Gyokeres Under Fire After Anfield Display
Havertz's return to the fold intensifies the competition for the central striking role, with Gabriel Jesus also fit and summer arrival Viktor Gyokeres under intense scrutiny. The £64 million signing from Sporting CP has struggled to find consistent form since returning from a hamstring injury in November.
In ten appearances, he has scored just once – a penalty – and is currently on a four-game goal drought. His return of five goals from 18 Premier League games has been widely criticised as insufficient for a club with title ambitions.
His performance in the recent clash with Liverpool drew particularly sharp criticism. Pundits suggested he failed to test Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, with former striker Michael Owen questioning his "class" against elite defences.
Gary Neville was even more damning in his assessment, labelling the display "really poor." Neville elaborated: "He’s been ineffective, and that’s being kind. It’s a really poor night from him, he offered nothing. Look, there’s not getting service and then there’s getting involved in the game and doing more – and he needed to do more."
Arteta's Forthcoming Selection Headaches
While rotation is expected for the Portsmouth fixture, Arsenal's packed January schedule will soon force Arteta's hand and reveal his true pecking order. The team faces a pivotal run of matches:
- A Carabao Cup semi-final away to Chelsea on Wednesday.
- A Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest next weekend.
- A Champions League encounter with Inter Milan in Italy.
- A huge home league clash with Manchester United on January 25th.
The debate over who should lead the line is already raging. Jamie Carragher, analysing the win over Aston Villa where Gabriel Jesus scored shortly after replacing Gyokeres, insisted both Jesus and Havertz should be ahead of the Swede. "Him or Havertz as the central striker for Arsenal is a better player than Gyokeres," Carragher argued. "Gyokeres is really game... but I think he just lacks that finesse and quality when you think about what they have on the bench."
Arteta now has a fully fit squad to choose from, presenting him with a dilemma that his upcoming team sheets will decisively answer.
