Arsenal fans have had plenty of opinions about Kai Havertz over the past few seasons. Some have appreciated what he brings. Others have wondered whether he’s really the answer in attack. That’s part of following a big club. Expectations are high, and players don’t always get much time to change people’s minds.

But every once in a while, a player gives supporters a pretty good reason to take another look. Havertz did that at Anfield.

His 16th-minute goal gave Arsenal a 1-0 win over Liverpool, ended the club’s 14-year wait for a Premier League victory at Anfield, and moved him to 46 Premier League goals. That made him the highest-scoring German player in the competition’s history, surpassing former Manchester City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan. That’s quite a collection of accomplishments for one afternoon.

Havertz Has Been Asked to Do a Lot

But I think there’s something else worth considering. Havertz hasn’t always been a conventional striker, and he hasn’t always been spectacular. His team moved him around, asked him to play different roles, and sometimes judged him against expectations that don’t necessarily fit the player he is.

That’s not an easy place to be. Some forwards make their living by scoring goals every week. Others contribute in different ways, and their value can be harder to measure. Havertz has had to live with both sets of expectations at Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s decision to start him ahead of Viktor Gyökeres in such an important away game was interesting. It suggested Arteta saw something in Havertz’s game that he particularly wanted against Liverpool. The German repaid that confidence in the best possible way. And perhaps that’s the point Arsenal supporters should take from this.

Havertz’s Value Isn’t Always Seen in the Highlight Reel

A player’s contribution isn’t always measured by how often he makes the highlight reel. Sometimes it’s about being trusted, being adaptable, and being ready when the opportunity arrives. Havertz is now 27, and his record-breaking goal suggests there’s still more to come. He may never be everybody’s favourite Arsenal player, and that’s perfectly fine.

But after what happened at Anfield, he may have earned a little more respect from those who doubted him.

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