Mikel Arteta has never been shy about backing his players.

Just last week, he went as far as backing Kai Havertz to do something he’s never managed in his career: score 25 goals in a season.

Not everyone thinks that’s realistic, though. World Cup Golden Boot winner Gary Lineker is one of those people, and he’s questioned whether the German is even being used in the right position.

Gary Lineker thinks Kai Havertz is ‘more of a 10’

Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Lineker said: “I mean, I don’t think Havertz is ever going to get 25 goals a season. He’s a different sort of player. He drifts in. He’s probably more of a 10, I think.”

Kai Havertz does like to drift, and that movement is a big part of why Arteta values him so highly up front. But we’ve seen him play as a No.10 before, and he doesn’t seem to be as effective there. Arsenal also have better options in that role, with Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Max Dowman all capable of playing there.

With Viktor Gyokeres struggling to get any sort of momentum, Arsenal are heavily reliant on Havertz to lead the line, even if the goals aren’t coming right now.

Kai Havertz needs to end his goal drought

The problem is, Lineker’s comments come at a time when Havertz isn’t at his best. After an impressive start to the season, he hasn’t really hit the same heights since the win over Chelsea, despite some strong cameos off the bench against Napoli and Lille in the Champions League.

He’s started all seven of Arsenal’s Premier League games but has only two league goals to show for it, three if you include the Community Shield win over Manchester City. He’s now gone six games without scoring, and he had a great chance to end that run at Forest on Sunday, only to head over from close range.

Wednesday gives him the chance to put that right. Havertz returns to Germany, where he made his name at Bayer Leverkusen, to face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.