Arsenal should axe Kai Havertz, his replacement is not who you think
Mikel Arteta should choose Mikel Merino to lead the line for Arsenal over Viktor Gyokeres in Kai Havertz's absence.
Arsenal's plans for the return of club football have been rocked by news of Havertz's latest injury blow.
The 27-year-old pulled out of the Germany squad in the last week after suffering a hamstring injury against the Netherlands.
He is expected to be sidelined for the Gunners' next Premier League game against Leeds on 10 October.
Arteta should spring a surprise and name Merino in his starting eleven up front ahead of the struggling Gyokeres.
Their respective statistics from last season prove why the Spaniard would be the better option for Arsenal going forward.
Mikel Merino brings more to the Arsenal team overall than Viktor Gyokeres
Havertz has only missed 17 minutes of Premier League action so far this season, scoring twice in five outings.
Gyokeres was Arteta's main striker last season as the German dealt with persistent injury concerns, but has only made two league appearances from the bench so far.
Merino is also yet to start a league game in 2026-27, but has been utilised as a makeshift striker in the last two campaigns and could revive that role this season.
He is the best option to replace Havertz in the Gunners' side for the visit of Leeds, after creating more chances (1.05), making more successful passes (24.6) and winning more duels (6.92) per 90 minutes than Gyokeres in the PL last season.
The Swede was more clinical in front of goal, but Merino outshone him in every other key metric, like successful dribbles (0.44), fouls won (1.75) and distance covered (12.7km) per 90 too.
Arsenal are bound to dominate the ball and the share of the chances against Leeds, who are 16th for average possession and shots on target per match in the PL this season.
Merino would clearly be the better option for Arteta, as a result, with Gyokeres set to offer little in the way of link-up and build-up play compared to the Spanish midfielder.
Who do Arsenal want to sign to solve their striker issues?
Arteta has reportedly made it clear to Emirates higher-ups that he wants to bolster his striking ranks in the coming transfer windows.
They chased Julian Alvarez's signature in the summer, but were unable to meet Atletico Madrid's lofty valuation of his services and remain interested in striking a deal in 2027.
Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Arsenal have already contacted Erling Haaland's representatives after news of Man City being found guilty of 114 breaches of the PL's financial rules.
The Norwegian would certainly be a coup for Arsenal, and City would not make things easy for them to sign him regardless of their bleak current situation.