Anfield Showdown: Havertz struggles as Arsenal face key absences

Arsenal enters its match against Liverpool on Sunday with a front line in disarray. The team lacks a consistent goal scorer in its best form, a deficit that could prove costly at Anfield. Manager Mikel Arteta relies on his current squad to find a way to break down a defense that has previously stymied the Gunners.

The absence of key attackers compounds the issue. Bukayo Saka, the team's top goal scorer and shot taker, remains sidelined with a thigh injury for more than a month. Noni Madueke may miss the trip due to an ankle issue. Christos Tzolis has not played for the club in over a month despite returning to training. Additionally, young defender Max Dowman will serve the first leg of a three-game suspension following a red card.

Kai Havertz is expected to start as the central striker, but his recent performances have been inconsistent. In the 12 games played this season, the 27-year-old has struggled to link play or threaten goals. His numbers reflect this dip in form. Across eight league matches, he averages fewer shots, goals, and non-penalty expected goals than in any previous season with the club. This decline persists even when adjusting for his reduced ball touches per minute compared to last year.

A notable statistical anomaly is Havertz's frequency of being caught offside. He has been ruled offside 10 times this season, a league-leading total. No other player has more than seven. The previous best in the league involved players averaging one offside per two games. Havertz's rate is significantly higher, though the sample size remains small. One factor may be the high defensive lines employed by opponents like Aston Villa, but his movement also appears mistimed.

Arteta dismissed injury as a primary cause for the slump. The German manager stated that Havertz had ample chances to perform and expressed full trust in his player. "There's nothing to do with that," Arteta said regarding the impact of Havertz's recent muscle strain. The manager acknowledged that fluctuations in efficiency among front players are common and indicated he would continue to support the striker.

The alternative option, Viktor Gyokeres, has not provided a clear solution. The Swede started the recent win over Everton but did not register a shot. He scored against Fleetwood in the EFL Cup but has averaged only 0.92 shots per 90 minutes this season. That ranking places him 16th in the squad, behind both left-backs. His historical record against elite opposition suggests he is not the ideal choice for a high-pressure match at Anfield.

Havertz has demonstrated high-level performance in the past. Last season, he scored 18 goals and provided nine assists in 37 Premier League games. He also delivered a strong display in the Champions League final in May. His ability to perform in big matches makes him the most logical choice for this fixture, despite current struggles.

Liverpool presents a specific tactical challenge. Last August, Arsenal fell to a free-kick winner by Dominik Szoboszlai in a similar visit to Anfield. Szoboszlai is currently a doubt for the upcoming match. The Gunners must find a way to create and convert chances to avoid a repeat of that result. The team has shown depth in other areas, but the attacking core lacks its usual sharpness.

The match is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1, at 11:30 a.m. ET. It will be broadcast on USA Network and streamed via fuboTV. Betting odds list Arsenal as slight favorites at +138, with Liverpool at +188 and a draw at +230. Arteta will finalize his lineup in the coming days, but the current evidence points to Havertz leading the line.