According to a report by Football London on Thursday, October 29, 2026, Arsenal’s disappointing Carabao Cup defeat against Fleetwood Town has raised fresh concerns over Kai Havertz’s form, with the German forward struggling in front of goal ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Liverpool.

Havertz endured a difficult evening against the League Two side, wasting seven chances without scoring. He missed a free header, struck the crossbar with a close-range effort and failed to convert an excellent pass from Martin Odegaard.

The former Chelsea attacker has now gone nine matches without scoring, increasing pressure on Mikel Arteta to reconsider his attacking options before Arsenal travel to Anfield.

Despite his recent struggles, Havertz has an impressive record against some of the Premier League’s strongest sides, which could encourage Arteta to keep him in the starting lineup.

His career as Arsenal’s centre-forward effectively began against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in February 2024. Since then, the German has regularly featured in important matches whenever he has been available.

According to The Athletic, Arsenal have lost only four of Havertz’s 19 starts as a centre-forward against the other members of the traditional Premier League big six, with just one of those defeats coming in league competition.

He also scored the opening goal in last season’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, highlighting his ability to perform on significant occasions.

Although Havertz is not always a consistent goalscorer, his physical presence, intelligent movement and ability to hold up possession help Arsenal sustain attacking pressure and create opportunities for his teammates.

Those qualities could prove particularly important at Anfield, where Arsenal have not won a Premier League fixture since 2012 and Arteta has never secured a managerial victory.

Viktor Gyokeres has also struggled to establish himself as Arsenal’s preferred alternative up front. The Swedish striker found life difficult against Virgil van Dijk during Arsenal’s previous visit to Anfield and completed only five passes against Fleetwood, despite scoring an equaliser.

Nevertheless, Havertz’s recent performances have strengthened calls for a change, with Mikel Merino emerging as another possible option.

Merino missed the Fleetwood encounter because of illness rather than injury but has previously demonstrated his ability to play as a centre-forward in important matches against Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Tottenham.

His physical strength, intelligent late runs into the penalty area and ability to deliver in significant fixtures could make him an interesting alternative against Liverpool.

Starting Merino would represent a bold decision, particularly given Arteta’s continued trust in Havertz. However, the Arsenal manager must decide whether the German’s experience against elite opposition outweighs his current struggles in front of goal.