For Arsenal, the centre-forward debate has become an annual ritual. But as Mikel Arteta prepares his squad for a monumental Premier League trip to Anfield, where the Gunners are chasing their first league victory since September 2012, the anxiety surrounding the No. 9 spot is as polarising as ever.

Fans are divided: Does Arsenal’s system thrive on a physical box predator like Viktor Gyokeres, or a linker like Kai Havertz? And could Mikel Merino also provide another option?

Tuesday night’s shock Carabao Cup elimination at the hands of fourth-tier Fleetwood Town poured gasoline on the fire. 

Before Gyokeres bundled home an 50th-minute equaliser, Arsenal’s senior striker duo had endured a grueling 9-match drought without a goal between them. 

While Arteta's side scored 17 times through alternative channels during that span, the defeat to a team 84 places below them in the pyramid exposed the stark contrast between their two main forward profiles.

Striver.Football sought to demystify the conundrum by analysing Gyokeres, Havertz, and even Mikel Merino ahead of Sunday's crucial showdown at Anfield.

Why Kai Havertz could suit Arsenal

Kai Havertz’s transition into Arsenal’s premier big-match focal point can be traced directly back to high-intensity encounters against top-six opposition. 

In his 19 starts as a centre-forward against the 'Big Six', Arsenal have lost just four times, with only one of those coming in the Premier League.

Havertz provides an invaluable target to beat direct high-press schemes, allowing David Raya to go long when buildup lanes are suffocated.

Rather than staying pinned inside the box, the German drops into half-spaces to drag central defenders out of position, opening interior channels for wingers.

However, Havertz's lack of instinctual finishing remains a liability. Against Fleetwood, he squandered 7 clear sights of goal, including two unmarked headers and a 1v1 scoop created by Martin Odegaard.

What Viktor Gyokeres offers Arsenal as a traditional No. 9

Signed from Sporting CP for huge money last season, Gyokeres produced 21 goals in all competitions last season. Yet, doubts linger over whether his skill set fully integrates into Arteta’s possession-heavy blueprint.

Unlike Havertz, Gyokeres is a classic No. 9 whose primary instincts revolve around penalty box occupancy, goal-line crashing, and second-phase rebounds.

The Swede struggles when forced to play as a back-to-goal playmaker. Against Fleetwood, he completed just 5 passes across 90 minutes, highlighting how isolated he becomes when Arsenal cannot pin opponents inside their own third.

In last season’s trip to Anfield, Gyokeres struggled to gain physical leverage against Virgil van Dijk, failing to establish functional hold-up play under long-ball pressure.

What Arsenal learned from starting Gyokeres and Havertz together

Arteta surprised supporters on Tuesday by starting both Havertz and Gyokeres together for only the fifth time in 15 months. The tactical experiment proved disastrous, underlining their fundamental stylistic incompatibility.

Havertz played behind Gyokeres as an awkward advanced midfielder, overcrowding the central pocket and restricting space for Odegaard.

Gyokeres drifted wide to seek touches, leaving the box vacant during early crossing phases. The setup lacked transition fluidity, leaving Arsenal vulnerable to counter-attacks and ultimately leading to cup elimination.

Could Mikel Merino offer Arsenal a different solution up front?

Having already filled in as a makeshift centre-forward for both club and country during previous injury crises, Mikel Merino presents a unique hybrid profile that can counter Liverpool's high-intensity block.

Merino's elite duel-winning rate provides a reliable target for David Raya's long restarts, bypassing Liverpool's high press and securing second-ball lay-offs.

His natural box-to-box instincts allow him to drop deep into pockets, creating 4v3 central overloads and dragging defenders like Virgil van Dijk out of position.

Unlike static forwards, Merino times his runs from deep late into the box, offering a clinical edge on cutbacks and wide crosses.

Final Thoughts

As Arsenal head to Anfield for a season-defining fixture, Mikel Arteta faces a stark decision. While Gyokeres offers a traditional box threat, Kai Havertz’s proven record in releasing pressure and linking play against 'Big Six' opposition makes him the more compatible choice for Liverpool’s high-intensity system. 

Starting Mikel Merino as a central forward at Anfield would represent a bold statement of intent from Mikel Arteta. But far from being a desperate gamble, it is a calculated adaptation.

Merino has already proven his capabilities in that position before, including in big games against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Against a Liverpool side that thrives on central intensity and high-line intimidation, Merino’s aerial power and big-match instincts could be exactly what unlocks Arsenal’s long-awaited victory on Merseyside.

Unless one of Gyokeres and Havertz rediscovers their goalscoring boots, using Merino as a makeshift solution or the winter transfer market will continue to be a possibility.