Arsenal’s attacking woes have taken centre stage as the Gunners prepare to face Liverpool on Sunday. Mikel Arteta’s front‑line options – Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyökeres – have failed to deliver a league goal since early September, and the club’s points tally is now level with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. The lack of firepower is a growing concern for a side that has already posted a strong start to the campaign, with nine wins in eight games and seven points from nine in the Champions League.
Havertz, Arteta’s first‑choice striker since returning from injury last season, began the campaign brightly. He scored in the Champions League final against Paris Saint‑Germain, added a goal in the Community Shield, and netted against Coventry and Chelsea. However, he has now played 561 minutes across all competitions without scoring, and his recent performances have been marked by missed chances. In the Carabao Cup loss to Fleetwood Town, he was unable to convert seven shots, a failure that highlighted a broader issue of finishing. The 27‑year‑old’s hamstring problem on Germany duty may have contributed to the dip in form, but the Gunners’ supporters are increasingly frustrated by his inability to find the back of the net.
Gyökeres, who finally broke his goal drought in the same cup tie with a penalty, has struggled to even generate shots. In 148 Premier League minutes he has only taken one header, which was harmlessly cleared. He has not registered a single shot in his 160 minutes of Champions League action. The Sweden international’s lack of volume is stark when compared with his predecessor’s output, and it has raised questions about his suitability against top opposition such as Liverpool. Arteta will have to decide whether to keep the pair on the bench, switch to a different striker, or rely on a more versatile option like Mikel Merino.
The analysis of the two players’ recent starts against Liverpool underscores the difference in their contributions. Gyökeres recorded no shots in either of his last two starts, with only 25 touches and a single pass in the 0‑0 draw in January. Havertz, meanwhile, produced five shots worth 1.22 expected goals, 14 touches in the box, and a far higher number of passes and duels won. His ability to link play and create chances has helped Arsenal’s open‑play threat, even as the team’s goal tally remains low.
Arteta’s dilemma is compounded by Arsenal’s transfer‑market strategy. Since taking over in 2019, the club has spent £224.5 million on forwards, compared with £550.1 million on midfielders and £350 million on defenders. After failed bids for Vinícius Júnior and Julián Álvarez, the club stuck with its existing attacking options, hoping Havertz would stay fit and Gyökeres would build on a 21‑goal first season. The current goal drought threatens to derail the Gunners’ strong start, and the upcoming match against a Liverpool side that has already produced a prolific striker in Alexander Isak will test whether Arsenal can still compete without a reliable goal scorer.
With the match set for 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Arteta will have to weigh the risks of starting either striker. A first goal for Havertz since September would be timely, but Gyökeres’s lack of shots and finishing may make him a less attractive option against a top‑flight opponent. The decision will be pivotal as Arsenal look to maintain their position at the summit of the Premier League and keep their Champions League ambitions alive.