LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 28: Kai Havertz of Arsenal celebrates scoring their second goal with Ben White (left) during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Arsenal FC and FC Kairat Almaty at Arsenal Stadium on January 28, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Visionhaus/Getty Images
It took Kai Havertz just 15 minutes of his first start of the season to register a goal and an assist in Arsenal’s Champions League win over Kairat Almaty. Back in the lineup after missing the majority of the 2025/26 season through injury, the German was a sight for sore eyes.
And the Gunners are feeling rather sore at the moment. While victory over Kairat on Wednesday completed a perfect Champions League league phase campaign in which Arsenal won eight from eight, recent performances in the Premier League have made everyone around the North London club edgy.
Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table has been whittled down to just four points. Mikel Arteta and his players are facing criticism for not imposing themselves on opposition teams forcefully enough, allowing valuable points to slip through their fingers at such a crucial point of the season.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 25: Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 25, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Getty Images
This is where Havertz could make a profound impact. The German is an excellent all-round forward who excels in bringing the best out of the teammates around him. He is a facilitator and this is good news for the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka. Arsenal are a more formidable force with Havertz involved.
“The team knows how important Kai is for us and how he can help the team to be much better and take the team to another level,” said Arteta after Havertz’s impressive display against Kairat Almaty. “The fact that he was able to do that today after such a long time was very impressive.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 28: Kai Havertz of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Arsenal FC and FC Kairat Almaty at Arsenal Stadium on January 28, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
“The quality he showed, and the way he connected with the team, and the goal that he scored and the assists he made in the first half, it was a really positive performance. Let’s bring him on board and make sure we use him in the right way because he is going to be really important for us in the second part of the season.”
Viktor Gyokeres was signed to be Arsenal’s new attacking focal point last summer. So far, though, the Swedish striker has struggled to consistently reach the level expected of him with Gabriel Jesus too injury-prone to be counted on over the course of a full season. Havertz could start ahead of them both down the final stretch of the title race.
Arsenal is at a crucial juncture of the season. A win away to Leeds United this weekend and the nerves would settle somewhat. While Arteta’s team have allowed its lead to slip in recent weeks, the Gunners are still title favourites. The return of Havertz could further underline this.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/grahamruthven/2026/01/29/is-kai-havertz-ready-to-revive-arsenals-title-challenge/
