Arsenal need Kai Havertz alternative to offer more than Viktor Gyokeres. What are the options?

The Athletic has reside protection of Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final.

Kai Havertz was not the just one feeling a way of resignation when he was pressured off with harm after 34 minutes towards Newcastle United on Saturday. Those watching inside and outdoors the Emirates Stadium knew the dynamics of the match was about to shift.

Havertz had began Arsenal’s final two video games up entrance and helped provide a platform that allowed for longer spells of possession and attacks. Coming on in his place towards Newcastle was Viktor Gyokeres — and his efficiency wouldn’t have stunned anybody.

Arsenal’s No 14 struggled but once more to make the ball stick up entrance, and that lack of safety took the match into uncomfortable territory. It contributed to a more back-and-forth affair than had been the case early on, which saved Newcastle in the match.

With Havertz now having picked up an harm — Although the club are optimistic it is not serious and remain hopeful of his return before the end of the season — Arsenal need his substitute for the subsequent week to offer more than Gyokeres has in earlier appearances.

The Sweden ahead has a turnover price — the share of possessions misplaced as a share of complete touches — of 42 per cent, the highest of any centre-forward with 900 minutes or more.

And it was telling that when Havertz returned from a knee harm in January, Arteta spoke about how Havertz “moves, communicates and makes a team better”.

Arteta could need to look past Gyokeres in the upcoming video games. The ahead is Arsenal’s prime scorer with 18 targets, however has not managed to persistently replicate all-round performances such as his one away at Tottenham Hotspur in February.

Next in line would seemingly be Gabriel Jesus, who has had a blended season since getting back from an anterior cruciate ligament harm in his left knee in December.

The Brazilian’s return breathed life right into a lackluster Arsenal assault as he mixed along with his team-mates to inject impetus. A half-hour away at Club Brugge in the Champions League restored an analogous feeling to when Jesus first signed for Arsenal in 2022, when his energetic fashion was an improve on an getting older Alexandre Lacazette.

That night in DecemberJesus had more touches than Gyokeres regardless of being on the pitch for half the time, and had 4 pictures (one hitting the crossbar). The 29-year-old adopted that up with encouraging cameos towards Wolves and Everton, earlier than beginning and scoring two away to Inter in January, however his type has been detached since.

Arsenal play Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, with their opponents no longer the defensively rigid team they once were. They have conceded three or more targets seven occasions this season, and have gone 36 Champions League matches and not using a goalless draw — averaging 4 targets in these matches. Using Jesus, who ought to be comparatively contemporary having performed simply 85 minutes since the Carabao Cup ultimate, could also be more helpful than Gyokeres.

If Arteta have been to search for somebody with more match rhythm, Leandro Trossard is an choice. The 31-year-old is but to begin a recreation as a center-forward this season, which is shocking contemplating how efficient he has been there in earlier years.

In the 2022-23 season, his deployment as a roaming false 9 noticed him register 10 Premier League assists in 20 matches. The following season, his two-man strike partnership with Havertz spark helped a run that took the title race to the ultimate day. Last 12 months, when Mikel Merino moved again into midfield throughout Havertz’s harm absence, Trossard began seven consecutive league video games up entrance, scoring 4 targets and aiding one other.

Three years on from when he first fulfilled the function at Arsenal, Trossard could not have the physicality to roam to mix with others as simply as he as soon as did, however he has displayed one thing in that scoring run final 12 months that Gyokeres is but to present: method underneath strain.

Viktor Gyokeres is Arsenal’s prime scorer… however is just not as fluid along with his team-mates (Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar through Getty Images)

He bought himself extra time and space to get a shot away with deft dummies earlier than every of these 4 targets (towards Everton, Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace).

Not solely is he a clear striker of the ball off each toes, however a mix of trickery and sharpness in entrance of aim may give Trossard the edge over Jesus. But he, too, has not been in sturdy type. The Belgium worldwide has seven targets and 9 assists this season, however simply three of these (all assists) have come since the flip of the 12 months.

Despite his misplaced cross towards Newcastle, Gyokeres’ finest moments for Arsenal have come when matches are more open and he has area. Arteta could choose to begin him if he thinks that’s how he feels upcoming matches may pan out, however these situations are more seemingly to happen later in matches when groups are chasing a aim.

Instead, utilizing both Jesus or Trossard seems like it will get the finest out of the assault as an entire. Both gamers interchange properly with their team-mates, and whereas there could need to be some adjustment by way of the kinds of passes that are performed up to them, that ought to make their assault more cohesive.

Arsenal matches have change into too frantic too usually with Gyokeres up entrance. Merino being accessible would have been excellent for Arteta, as he not solely gives a aim risk, however can vacate area for others to assault, as in the 4-1 win over Spurs in November.

But that is the state of affairs Arsenal are in. Dropping Gyokeres in the center of a trophy chase could also be harsh, however others give Arteta’s aspect a greater probability of dominating and profitable matches.