Winterburn explains why Arteta favours Havertz over Gyokeres

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Viktor Gyokeres continues to find the net for Sweden during international breaks, but reproducing that form in an Arsenal shirt has proven far harder. Former Gunners defender Nigel Winterburn believes he understands exactly why Mikel Arteta keeps turning to Kai Havertz ahead of the club's big money summer signing.

Gyokeres arrived at Arsenal with a reputation built on prolific scoring at Sporting CP, but he has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot. His chances in the first team have not always been matched by the kind of performances needed to keep his place, raising genuine questions about how smoothly he fits into Arteta's system.

Winterburn points to movement and link up play

Speaking to the Metro, Winterburn addressed why Havertz appears to have the edge in Arteta's thinking. He pointed out that Gyokeres looked uncomfortable at the start of last season before improving significantly in the final months of the campaign.

'I thought he (Gyokeres) looked uncomfortable at Arsenal at the start of last season, but he did very well in the last couple of months,' Winterburn said. 'A lot of Arsenal's games last year were more defensive minded than open and attacking, which probably didn't help him.'

He went on to explain the specific attributes that have kept Havertz in favour. 'I'm not surprised Havertz has started. I think Arteta likes his movement and link up play.'

The challenge facing Gyokeres

Winterburn's comments underline just how important movement and combination play are within Arsenal's attacking setup under Arteta. Havertz has long been valued for his ability to drop into pockets of space, link with midfielders, and create for those around him, qualities that appear to align closely with what the manager wants from his central striker.

Gyokeres, by contrast, has typically been more of a direct, penalty box focused finisher throughout his career. Adapting that profile to Arsenal's more intricate build up play has clearly been a process, and one that is still ongoing.

His form in a Sweden shirt during the international break offers some reassurance that the finishing instincts remain sharp. The challenge now is translating that output into consistent performances at club level, where the tactical demands are evidently different.

Arsenal will continue to monitor his progress as the season develops, with Havertz currently holding the advantage in Arteta's selection. Whether Gyokeres can force his way back into regular contention may depend on how well he adjusts his game to suit the movement and link up play the manager prizes so highly.