Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes Kai Havertz has the quality to become a 30-goal striker, insisting the German forward needs regular playing time and opportunities to unlock his full goalscoring potential.
Havertz is expected to lead Arsenal’s attack against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, with Arteta continuing to favour the 27-year-old over Viktor Gyökeres despite the latter’s availability.
The Gunners boss remains convinced that Havertz can deliver elite numbers in front of goal, pointing to his football intelligence, mentality and ability to understand tactical instructions quickly.
Since joining Arsenal from Chelsea in 2023, Havertz has recorded 14 goals in his first season at the Emirates Stadium before improving to 15 goals in the following campaign. However, injuries have disrupted his progress over the past two seasons.
A hamstring problem ruled him out for the final four months of the 2024-25 campaign, while further hamstring and knee issues restricted him to just 24 appearances across all competitions last season. He managed seven goals during that injury-hit campaign.
Havertz has started every Arsenal Premier League match so far this season and scored twice in the club’s opening three fixtures. However, he has since gone five league matches without finding the net, raising questions about his current finishing form.
Arteta, though, is not concerned about the drought and believes the striker can reach a level that would make him one of Arsenal’s most prolific attackers.
“He has that ability,” Arteta said. “That is why he is playing there as well, and that is why we signed him.
“He needs that volume of games and actions, and if you give him that, I am a big believer that yes, he can do it.
The Arsenal manager’s confidence is built on more than Havertz’s goalscoring record. Arteta believes the forward’s understanding of the game gives him an advantage, particularly when reading defensive movements, identifying spaces and making decisions under pressure.
“His football IQ is something else. He understands everything at such speed, and he can break down information better probably than anyone else on the team.
Arteta also acknowledged that returning from a lengthy injury absence can be difficult, especially for a player expected to perform at the highest level. Nevertheless, he has been encouraged by how quickly Havertz has returned to competitive action.
“That’s something that’s not easy to say especially when we talk about a striker. He was out for a long period of time last season and to get back at the highest level is not easy and it can take time.
“But Kai has done it almost immediately from pre-season and I’m not surprised because his mentality is top. I value him a lot.”
Havertz’s role could prove crucial as Arsenal look to maintain their attacking threat throughout the campaign. His movement between midfield and the forward line allows him to link play, create space for teammates and arrive in scoring positions without always operating as a traditional centre-forward.
His previous seasons at Arsenal have demonstrated that he can produce important goals when given a consistent run in the side. The challenge now is to turn that promise into sustained output, particularly after his recent run without a league goal.
Arteta’s backing also places responsibility on Havertz to make the most of the opportunities coming his way. With Gyökeres competing for the centre-forward position, the German will need to justify his manager’s faith through performances and goals.
For Arsenal, a fully fit Havertz capable of approaching 30 goals a season would represent a significant attacking boost. Arteta clearly believes the ability is there; the priority is keeping him on the pitch long enough to prove it.
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