Havertz versus Gyökeres: who will be our starter?

JazzG

Big games Havertz and for the so called lesser sides Gyokeres.

Sicario2

Gyo every day of the week and twice on Sundays. We signed him as an upgrade to Kai not as back up.

Don Pacifico

Sicario2 they've got different strengths so can work in different situations but I'm yet to see how Gyokeres is overall the better option, regardless of whether he was bought to be first choice or not.

JazzG

Sicario2 We signed him as an upgrade to Kai not as back up.

He is a different type of striker, not really shown much to suggest he is much of an upgrade though.

Mirth

No one thinks they can both play together? As has been mentioned, they’re both very different players and won’t get in each other’s way

Sicario2

Mirth only if Kai plays number 8. We aren’t going to play 4-4-2

RowJimmy

Havertz has better technique, is a better athlete, and fits our style better.

Sicario2

RowJimmy Gyo is a better goalscorer and that is what it should come down to.

RowJimmy

Sicario2
Yet to see it.
The fact that he allowed us to get through the first two months of the season without Havertz available was a major contribution, however.

PS - It's possible the correct answer is Merino.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

RowJimmy PS - It's possible the correct answer is Merino.

Genuinely could be 😆

Burnwinter

They're both excellent players. An hour of one followed half an hour of the other would suit different kinds of matches. Havertz to Gyök for the tense and paranoid affairs, other way round for the matches we're hoping will be comfortable wins.

Don Pacifico

Burnwinter They're both excellent players

They're both fine but flawed options. Excellent is pushing it for me. Whoever the next top CF that comes onto the market is, we should be in for them.

USArsenal

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

LOL.. but, it genuinely isnt. He is our emergency 3rd backup striker.

Meatwad

the objective is for arsenal to score goals. whoever helps us do that is the best option to me.

lorddulaarsenal

It’s not unpossible the answer may be Gabby Jesus

CPM

Wouldn't necessarily rule out Gyökeres but he has not approached the level of 2024 Havertz yet, and he has physical and technical limitations that will make it hard for him to get there. It may also depend who else is fit and starting – Havertz may fit better with Eze at 10 while Gyökeres is better with Ødegaard, etc.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Newcastle, Olympiakos, and Burnley games showed that Gyokeres has what it takes in terms of all-round game.

GooneriC

Gyokeres because he is the better finisher and strikes the ball cleaner. Havertz is always caught between shooting and passing and ends up shooting weakly

Qwiss

GooneriC its this for me as well. I like Havertz a lot but Gyokeres edges for me because he's a natural forward. I think he pushes teams back and makes space for everyone else. We;ve changed our attacking play to accommodate Gyokeres and I think its made us better. Kai has been out for a very long time too so in the short-medium term I expect to see a little more of Gyokeres. I really hope we use both heavily and have them fresh as much as possible though. A fresh Kai is better than a tired Gyok and vice versa.

Tam

Right now it’s Gyorkeres’ spot to lose. He was the big summer (for a while!) and he’s been up to speed and gelling with those around him. I think Havertz is going to have to impress in whatever spells he gets and hope Gyokeres hits a dry run at some point to have any chance of staking a claim for starter.

It’s by no means guaranteed he gets up to speed, match fitness and form any time soon given his time out and previous attempt to come back.

flobaba

I have a feeling that Gyokeres comes back even better than when he got hurt. I think the injury will have afforded him some time to study and understand his role better. Watch how Merino interprets the position and leads the press, ask questions and discuss with the coaching staff, that sort of thing. Little but important tweaks that can translate into significant improvements.

Tam

flobaba he’s also coming back into a team that is functioning better than the one he originally played in.

QuincyAbeyie

flobaba I'd be very disappointed if he's not "even better" than what he's shown so far.