Why Kai Havertz is Arteta’s key weapon against former club Chelsea

This article was updated on 18 September 2026 to reflect the latest build-up to Arsenal’s Premier League meeting with Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal are preparing to host Chelsea. It is a near-term fixture on their Premier League calendar. Mikel Arteta has not confirmed a starting lineup for the Chelsea meeting. Kai Havertz’s role remains the main talking point as the build-up continues.

The build-up to Arsenal vs Chelsea

Mikel Arteta’s side welcome Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea for a fixture that has plenty riding on it for both London clubs. It sits as a near-term date on Arsenal’s Premier League schedule. No official team news has been released yet.

Arteta’s camp has stayed quiet on selection. Supporters will have to wait. The matchday squad will settle any lineup questions in due course.

Why Kai Havertz matters for Arteta

Few players carry as much tactical significance for Arteta right now as Kai Havertz. His profile gives Arsenal a focal point. He can link midfield and attack, a trait Arteta has built much of his system around.

Havertz stands at 193cm. That height gives him a physical presence few Premier League forwards can match. Paired with his range on the ball, it makes him a genuine point of difference whenever Arsenal face a side as well organised as Chelsea.

That blend of size and technique keeps Havertz central to Arteta’s planning. This holds true whatever shape the team eventually takes against Chelsea.

Who is Kai Havertz in the Chelsea build-up?

Havertz is the 193cm forward whose three years at Chelsea give this Chelsea meeting an extra layer of interest. He moved to Arsenal after that spell. He knows the club that shaped the early part of his career in England.

That stint at Stamford Bridge sits in the background of this build-up, not at the centre of it. Arsenal have not framed his return as the story of the match. It remains a notable thread given the opponent.

What happens next

No starting lineup has been confirmed for either side. Arsenal’s build-up continues in the days before kick-off. Team news is expected closer to the match itself.

For the fuller picture of Havertz’s importance to Arteta’s plans, supporters can revisit the original Havertz update. This page will be refreshed again once Arsenal confirm their team news for the Chelsea meeting.