Kai Havertz isn’t the most popular player around the Premier League, and even though Arsenal themselves spent a ton of money to replace him with a more traditional No. 9 in Viktor Gyokeres last summer transfer window and have designs on making an even bigger splash before the window closes this year in La Liga superstar Julian Alvarez, the German international is still valued highly.
And Havertz did have a strong Friday night 2026/27 Premier League season debut against Coventry, toasting up the newly promoted side with a goal. Arsenal fans have viewed Havertz as a loyal servant and a key player, and a lot of them astutely point out that when you look at the raw production, he is playing the best ball of his career in North London.
While Havertz was something of a phenom in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, his average of 0.66 goals and assists per 90 minutes for Arsenal is the best mark of his career.
He is known more for his all around play, intelligence, dribbling, and ability to clear space for the other Arsenal attackers than for getting the goals and assists themselves, but because he is in a time share with others, people do overlook the fact that his goals and assists numbers at a top club are actually pretty elite in a league as tough as the English top flight; a goal or assist in two out of every three games is actually pretty prolific for a center forward/false nine profile of a striker.
Arsenal want to see Havertz put up big numbers this season, and if he and Alvarez pair together this year, that could be a boon for the raw data Havertz has, since Alvarez’s profile can lead to more assists – and even more goals scoring chances – if he and the German are on the pitch together.
And if not, Arsenal fans want to see Havertz get the keys to the starting job over Gyokeres, and while the rest of the Premier League doubts him, the Gunners faithful believe Havertz is one of the best in the league. In his prime now at 27 years of age, this could be the time Havertz really proves it.
Purveyor of footy since the 90s. Favor the Premier League and old school Serie A with a touch of Bundesliga. More than a touch. Professional writer for 20 years, covering every sport but now focused on the Premier League and world football. You won’t be able to guess my favorite team.