Mikel Arteta and Viktor Gyokeres were both very pleased to see Kai Havertz back on the pitch on Wednesday night, with the two forwards performing excellently together.
Kai Havertz made his first start of the 2025/26 campaign on Wednesday night, making the lineup at home to Kairat Almaty in the Champions League’s final League Phase fixture.
Yet Victor Gyokeres didn’t drop out of the team for Havertz, with the German international instead playing in midfield behind the Swedish striker.
The system worked wonders, with Havertz assisting Gyokeres’ opening goal less than three minutes into the match. Gyokeres’ physicality then opened up space for Havertz to score in the 15th minute, and Havertz’s ball across the box led to Gyokeres assisting Gabriel Martinelli’s goal in the 36th.
Both players left the game with a goal and an assist, so perhaps it was no surprise Gyokeres was pleased to see Havertz back involved.
“It was great to have Kai back,” Gyokeres said afterwards. “He performed great this game, even though he only played 45, so yeah, it went really well, I think.”
Mikel Arteta agreed, saying: “I think the quality that [Havertz] showed, the way he connected with the team, the goal that he scored, the assist that he made in the first half – a really positive performance.
“He can play in [all positions] I think – right, left, attacking midfielder or nine. It doesn’t change much for him, depending on the position, the relationships we have around him, and the players that are available as well.
“The good thing is that he’s fit, he’s available and he’s going to give us so much.”
The question now is whether Havertz is ready to have an immediate impact in the Premier League as well. Arteta wouldn’t commit on whether the 26-year-old is ready for league starts, but he suggested the player will be knocking on the door ahead of this weekend.
“For sure, he wanted to continue playing today, so I know what is coming tomorrow!” Arteta said of Havertz’s desire to face Leeds. “From now on, we have to make a decision whether he starts or not in these competitions.”