EPL: Arteta Comments on the Possibility of Gyökeres and Havertz Playing Together for Arsenal

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has suggested that Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz could both feature in the same lineup, potentially offering the Gunners greater attacking depth and flexibility.

Gyökeres, who joined Arsenal during the summer transfer window from Portuguese side Sporting CP, has already begun making his mark during pre-season preparations. In contrast, Havertz — who has been deployed in the centre-forward position for much of the past two seasons — remains a key figure in Arsenal’s attacking setup.

In the club’s recent pre-season matches, Arteta experimented with different attacking combinations. The Swedish striker started both of Arsenal’s latest friendlies — first against Villarreal, and then against Athletic Bilbao. In the second match, Havertz came on as a substitute for Gyökeres, showing how the manager is testing various options ahead of the new season.

Both forwards found the back of the net in Arsenal’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Emirates Cup final on Saturday. Their scoring contributions highlighted the depth and variety Arteta now has in his attacking arsenal — no pun intended.

Speaking after the game, Arteta confirmed that he sees no reason why the two cannot play together:

“They can play together. It elevates the quality in the squad, the goal threat in the team, and the options we have to change and cause the opposition a lot of problems. It’s great to see both of them scoring. It’s a good problem to have.”

The Arsenal manager’s comments suggest that fans might see Gyökeres and Havertz sharing the pitch in competitive fixtures soon, adding another dimension to the club’s attacking strategy as they prepare for the Premier League season.