Kai Havertz Makes Premier League History and Breaks Manchester City Legend's Record

One Goal, Three Points and a Historic Record

Kai Havertz needed just 16 minutes to make history at Anfield. The German forward scored the only goal in Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Liverpool, a result that sent the Gunners three points clear at the top of the Premier League and made Havertz the competition's all-time leading German goalscorer.

The move began with a mistake as Liverpool tried to play out from the back. Declan Rice made an overlapping run down the right and delivered a perfectly placed cross for Havertz to tap home. Despite scoring the winner, the German was quick to give his teammate most of the credit.

"I think 90% of the goal belongs to that man," Havertz told Sky Sports. The striker praised Rice's movement and delivery, insisting his own finish was the easy part of the move.

Havertz Surpasses Gündoğan's Record

With that goal, Havertz reached 46 goals in 172 Premier League appearances, moving ahead of İlkay Gündoğan, who scored 45 during his time with Manchester City.

The 27-year-old began his Premier League career with Chelsea, scoring 19 league goals before joining Arsenal in 2023. He has since added another 27 for the north London club.

Havertz now sits alone at the top of the all-time German scoring list, followed by Gündoğan (45 goals), Pascal Groß (34), Mesut Özil (33) and Jürgen Klinsmann and Uwe Rösler (29 each).

Why Havertz Still Divides Opinion

The record is unlikely to end the debate that has followed Havertz throughout his career in England. His technical ability has rarely been questioned, but his best position remains a talking point. He has played in midfield, on the wing and as a central striker without ever fitting the mold of a traditional No. 9.

Yet there is one quality Mikel Arteta appears to value above all: his ability to deliver in big games. Havertz has scored four goals in 14 appearances across all competitions this season, with three coming against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Even last season, when injuries restricted him to just 24 appearances, he managed to score against major opponents and contribute important goals in the Champions League, including one in the final against Paris Saint-Germain.

His overall scoring numbers might not rival those of Europe's most prolific strikers, but Havertz has developed a reputation for making an impact when Arsenal need him most.

Why Arteta Keeps Trusting Havertz

Competition with Viktor Gyökeres has only intensified the discussion over who should lead Arsenal's attack. The Swedish striker arrived in England after scoring 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting CP, before adding another 21 in his debut season with the Gunners.

Still, Arteta chose Havertz to start against Liverpool, and the decision proved decisive. His goal not only secured three valuable points but also helped Arsenal claim their first Premier League victory at Anfield since 2012.

While Gyökeres offers the profile of a more traditional goalscorer, Havertz brings movement, pressing and the ability to connect different areas of the attack. He may not be Arsenal's most prolific forward, but Arteta continues to value what he contributes beyond goals.

The debate will likely continue, especially if Arsenal explore further attacking reinforcements in future transfer windows. For now, though, Havertz has a historic Premier League record, a match-winning goal against Liverpool and his manager's trust to answer his critics.

Kai Havertz's Record in Numbers

• 46 goals in 172 appearances: Havertz is now the highest-scoring German in Premier League history.
• Gündoğan overtaken: The former Manchester City midfielder previously held the record with 45 goals.
• Historic Arsenal victory: Havertz's goal secured a 1-0 win at Anfield, Arsenal's first Premier League triumph there since 2012.

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