How ruthless Mikel Arteta can solve major Arsenal problem against Atletico Madrid | OneFootball

Gunners boss faces huge dilemma for Champions League semi-final first-leg showdown

As Kai Havertz trudged off the pitch, shirt pulled over his face in devastation, the fear was that not just his season was over but potentially Arsenal's too.

Havertz only played 34 minutes but in that time he provided the assist for Eberechi Eze's winner and showed enough to emphasise what he brings to the Arsenal side.

Havertz's technical quality makes a huge difference to the team. There was one lovely example on the left wing when he effortlessly brought a long ball down.

He is not the perfect striker - against Manchester City he missed two massive chances. However, Arsenal are simply far more capable of creating those kinds of opportunities when Havertz plays.

The Gunners have suffered for having him unavailable for large chunks of the season. While Havertz is understood to have avoided a significant injury and should return from the muscular issue to play some part in the run-in, any absence at this stage of the season is magnified.

He is expected to miss the Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night and that leaves Mikel Arteta with a dilemma.

Plan B: Viktor Gyokeres is likely to start in place of Kai Havertz when Arsenal face Atletico Madrid

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The leading candidate to start up front - and the man Arteta will almost certainly turn to - is Viktor Gyokeres. However, with the two biggest competitions still there to be won, Arteta needs to be ruthless and consider alternatives.

Gyokeres is the club's top scorer and a return of 18 goals in his first season in England is a decent one. There is also no doubting how hard he works for the team.

The eye test, though, makes clear that he still looks an awkward fit in this Arsenal side. His technical quality is not up to the level of those around him.

Those relationships that Havertz has, and maybe even that trust, are not there. Martin Odegaard had chances to play Gyokeres in against Newcastle but more often than not opted to turn back and look elsewhere.

Once Havertz was replaced by Gyokeres, there was a huge drop-off in how Arsenal were able to retain possession and get up the pitch.

In the Premier League this season, Havertz has won 3.05 aerial duels per 90 minutes. That figure is just 1.18 for Gyokeres, who wins only 30 per cent of his duels.

The Swede has far fewer touches, as you would expect, but the necessary pay-off for that needs to be that he comes alive in the opposition's box.

That is not happening either. Gyokeres averages 2.1 shots per 90, ranking him below the likes of Beto, Jacob Murphy and Tolu Arokodare.

One of Arsenal's big struggles in the last seven games has been controlling matches. There have been too few spells where the team have been able to sustain possession and show security on the ball.

The trip to City was an exception, when Havertz was back leading the line, and the problems have otherwise been exacerbated when Gyokeres is up front.

With Havertz out, Mikel Merino would be the most ideal replacement. He can win his duels, hold the ball and link up with those around him.

The Spaniard is making progress in his recovery from a serious foot injury, but it is still unclear what role he can play this season.

Arteta will have to look elsewhere. Gabriel Jesus has lost much of his physicality and has noticeably not been trusted by the Spaniard in recent months.

However, Jesus' cameo in the previous Champions League round against Sporting was encouraging. Arsenal looked far more confident seeing out a late lead once he was on and adding to the technical quality up front.

When Havertz is unavailable, Arsenal cannot play in the same way

Jesus would also bring more out of those around him than Gyokeres does. His rotations with Gabriel Martinelli in particular are well-established.

That is not to say Gyokeres has no role to play. Jesus does not have a full 90 minutes in him and Gyokeres has proved himself an effective option off the bench, when matches open up and he can attack space rather than defenders.

He scored a brilliant goal in the league phase against Inter Milan when introduced late on and finishing on the counter.

If not Jesus, Arteta could consider Martinelli up front, to provide a different kind of threat, or even Leandro Trossard as a false nine.

Trossard is not an outlet like Havertz, or even Jesus, is, but he could play his part in a very fluid attack. The Belgian has been disappointing in 2026 and a change in position is maybe the reset he needs.

He was used as a false nine at times in the 2022-23 season and impressed Arteta. "He is so good in the small spaces. He’s got that creativity to open people up and I’m really happy with him," the Arsenal manager said.

Trossard started seven of the last eight league games last season up front and scored four goals. He is not an out-and-out striker but he is a more natural fit for this side than Gyokeres.

The brutal reality, though, is that Arteta needs Havertz fit. When he is unavailable, Arsenal cannot play in the same way.