Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made a few interesting changes to his side against Manchester City.
Both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli were left out of the starting line-up, as was big-money summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.
Eberechi Eze started on the left, Martin Odegaard in attacking midfield, and Kai Havertz led the line in place of the Swede.
The latter was Arsenal’s best player against City, but it’s not all good news.
Simple question: How do Arsenal win the Premier League title from here?
Kai Havertz could be the reason why Arsenal don’t win the Premier League
Mikel Arteta’s decision to bring Havertz into the side was a masterstroke.
The Germany international was very intelligent with his movement, pressed incredibly well when he had to and won a lot of aerial duels.
Havertz even scored the equaliser after closing down Gianluigi Donnarumma quickly and taking advantage of his mistake.
The former Chelsea man was Arsenal’s best player against City for all of the above reasons, but he arguably cost them the game as well.
Havertz had two huge chances in the second half. The first came when Odegaard put him through with a good pass, but his shot was saved well.
The biggest chance of the game, however, came in second-half stoppage time. Trossard delivered an incredible cross, straight onto Havertz’s head.
All he had to do was direct it goalwards, but it went over the bar instead.
Those two missed opportunities cost Arsenal the game, and it could end up being the reason why they don’t win the Premier League this season.
Is Declan Rice right or is the Premier League title race DONE?
Kai Havertz would’ve been one of the best strikers in the world if he had good finishing
Every manager Havertz has worked under absolutely loves him.
Arteta, Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann are among the best footballing minds in the world, and they have all heaped praise on him countless times.
Havertz is definitely worthy of that because he possesses almost every trait you would want in a central attacker.
However, the one quality he lacks is finishing. If Havertz possessed Gyokeres’ finishing ability, the conversations around him would be very different.
We think he would be one of the best strikers in the world, but sadly, his finishing is just above average, and that has cost Arsenal again.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
