--- title: "Arsenal Face Challenge at Anfield with Key Players Missing" url: https://newscentral.site/arsenal-face-challenge-at-anfield-with-key-players-missing/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Sports" published: 2026-10-30T18:54:41.000Z updated: 2026-11-01T12:47:59.373Z id: 06aee926-3660-42b9-b60e-c0f4d73df130 source: "CBS Sports \n https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/kai-havertz-fix-in-time-liverpool-vs-arsenal-showdown/" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/arsenal-face-challenge-at-anfield-with-key-players-missing/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Arsenal Face Challenge at Anfield with Key Players Missing This weekend's match between Arsenal and Liverpool comes with added pressure for the Gunners due to injuries to several key players. Arsenal's visit to Anfield this weekend comes with a stark reminder of the need for a clinical finisher in the final third to break down the opposition. Last season's encounter at Liverpool taught Arsenal that failing to do so makes them vulnerable to the kind of counter-attacking magic that can bamboozle them, even if key players are missing from action. In particular, Mikel Arteta's team will be without their top shot taker, goal scorer, and expected goals compiler in Bukayo Saka, who is still recovering from a thigh injury he suffered over a month ago. Additionally, other important players such as Noni Madueke may also miss the trip due to an ankle injury, leaving Arteta with limited options up front. Meanwhile, Christos Tzolis has returned to training but has not played for his new club in more than a month. The absence of Saka and potentially others will put added pressure on the remaining players to deliver, making this a particularly challenging game for Arsenal. Havertz's recent performance has been underwhelming, with no goals and just one assist in his last six games. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta dismissed any suggestion that Havertz's struggles are a result of lingering injury issues from the international break. The German attacker had returned to action after straining a muscle and played an hour against Leeds before featuring in every other game since, but has shown little signs of his usual form. His lack of goal-scoring threat has been particularly evident. In one instance, Havertz took seven shots against Fleetwood, which would have been expected to yield 0.72 goals according to statistical analysis. Despite the decent numbers, Arsenal ultimately failed to capitalize on these opportunities. Havertz has been a source of frustration for Arsenal fans in recent times, as his performances have not quite lived up to expectations. The Germany international's struggles are particularly puzzling given his impressive form from two and a half years ago, when he was instrumental in helping the Gunners secure a 3-1 win over Liverpool. Since then, Havertz has had moments of brilliance, such as his hour-long display against PSG in the Champions League final and his dominant performance against Manchester City just weeks prior. These flashes of excellence suggest that Havertz still has it in him to be a game-changer for Arsenal, but consistency has been a major issue for the 27-year-old this season. In contrast to his previous seasons with the club, Havertz is averaging fewer shots, goals, and non-penalty xG per 90 minutes this term, which is a concerning trend for Arteta's side. Furthermore, the data suggests that Havertz is not being used as effectively by his manager, with the striker touching the ball less on average than in previous seasons. Despite these numbers, there is one area where Havertz has seen a significant improvement: offsides. The 27-year-old has been caught out behind the opposition defense at an alarming rate this season, with a staggering 10 offsides already recorded in the Premier League. In fact, no player in the league matches Havertz's tally, and the gap to second-placed Bukayo Saka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin is significant, with both players having been caught out just seven times each. Havertz's struggles are a major concern for Arsenal as they prepare to face Liverpool, and it remains to be seen whether he can turn things around in time for the big game. Havertz's struggles on the pitch continue to be a concern for Arsenal as he tries to find his rhythm in games. The sample size of minutes played by Havertz is still small and open to interpretation, which might explain some of his recent performances. One possible explanation for Havertz's high number of offsides could be the high line employed by Aston Villa, which can create opportunities for quick counter-attacks. However, not all of Havertz's offside incidents are solely due to the defense's strategy or a momentary lapse in judgment. A closer look at Havertz's recent game against Aston Villa reveals that he sometimes gets ahead of himself and makes decisions too quickly on the pitch. In one instance, he moved forward too soon to collect a pass from his teammate Martin Odegaard before shooting wide from a promising position. This suggests that Havertz might be out of sync with both his own game and that of his teammates, which is a common problem for forwards in football. His manager acknowledged this issue on Friday, indicating that Havertz's form and efficiency are not unique to him alone. Despite the challenges faced by Havertz, his manager, Arteta, has expressed full trust in him and his abilities. This confidence suggests that Arteta believes in Havertz's potential and is willing to give him time to work through his struggles. Arteta's decision to start Viktor Gyokeres against Everton was an attempt to shake things up and find a solution to Arsenal's attacking woes. However, Gyokeres' performance against Fleetwood, where he scored but took only two other shots, raises questions about whether he is the right player to turn to in big games like the one against Liverpool. Havertz is in dire need of a turnaround after a lackluster start to the season. Despite retaining the full backing of his manager, he has not been able to find his footing. The upcoming match against Arsenal at Anfield will be a crucial test for Havertz, who needs to rediscover his form quickly. --- Source: [CBS Sports]( https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/kai-havertz-fix-in-time-liverpool-vs-arsenal-showdown/ ) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/arsenal-face-challenge-at-anfield-with-key-players-missing/