Kai Havertz schools Viktor Gyokeres on how to lead the Arsenal frontline for Mikel Arteta

Kai Havertz has shown Viktor Gyokeres exactly what it takes to lead the Arsenal frontline under Mikel Arteta.

Kai Havertz has proved he's worth his weight in gold to Mikel Arteta. Viktor Gyokeres watched on from the sidelines, again, as his colleague fired Arsenal to a statement win over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Germany international levelled proceedings shortly before the half-hour mark, sliding the ball through the legs of Maxence Lacroix to beat Emi Martinez at his near post from the edge of the box. Havertz then played a key role in teeing up Martin Odegaard to score the winner just after the break.

The 27-year-old wasn't formally awarded the assist, but a feigned touch was enough to deceive Wesley Fofana and allow a pass from Christos Tzolis to roll into the path of Martin Odegaard, who then smashed the ball past Emi Martinez from close range.

Havertz later left the field to a standing ovation, making way for Gyokeres; it didn't take long before the gulf in quality became uncomfortably evident. Thanks to the German though, whose genius in that moment can't be measured, the Gunners banked three crucial points in the early stages of the Premier League title race.

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Once all was said and done, Havertz recorded three shots – two of which were in the box, and the other from just outside, being the goal – took eight touches in the box, and created three chances. The former Chelsea striker put on a centre-forward clinic for Gyokeres with his ability to occupy centre-halves, create space for others with his movement, and, ultimately, find the back of the net.

Havertz dominated the right-hand channel in particular, creating an overload when running in behind and dragging the backline part when dropping short. Even when Fofana chose to follow him, it would often leave space alongside Maxence Lacroix and behind the Blues' makeshift double pivot in midfield, which was vulnerable when recycling play.

Whether it was a conscious effort by Arteta to funnel play down the right or not, the Arsenal players quickly recognised the value in Havertz's role. The German was at the heart of the action, combining nicely with his teammates.

Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, Jamie Carragher told Gyokeres to just accept his role as an understudy. The Liverpool legend said: "To displace Kai Havertz out this team, you’re talking about one of the best players in the world, that’s what you have to get.

"It has to be an Ian Wright, guaranteed 30 goals a season, a Thierry Henry. Gyokeres is never taking Havertz’s place, not ever. Morgan Rogers, I’m not sure [would have], as well.

"It’s not about how good they are just in attack, it’s what they give you for the team. One of the reasons why you can’t break Arsenal down as a team is how well they press from the front.

"But then when the opposition get through that, they all get behind the ball, and Havertz is about 25, 30 yards from his goal. You go and ask a world-class striker to do that, a guy who’s obsessed with his numbers and his goals to come back and do that, he won’t do that.

"When you see Havertz, what he does in terms of both boxes, set-piece wise as well. Havertz is more of a facilitator; he’s not a great goalscorer. Can [Bukayo] Saka or the wide players get more goals the way [Mohamed] Salah and [Sadio] Mane used to with Bobby Firmino in that position?

"They’re not both great goal scorers, but they bring an awful lot to the team. And this idea that you’ve got to bring someone in who’s like, amazing, yes, I’m the one who’s said consistently, they haven’t got one of the best players in the world in the front four.

"But you better get someone at that level, at that unbelievable level, to take Havertz out of that team. Mikel Arteta, the type of manager that he is, taking Havertz out of that team and what he does for that team defensively.

"We talk about how strong they are defensively. No one can get a shot on target; it’s not just the goalkeeper and the back four; that’s the whole team.

"So he’d be giving up on, actually, some of his team’s defensive solidity, to add a little bit more in the attack, that’s the decision every manager has to take..."