Mikel Arteta has been left deeply disappointed with Kai Havertz following Arsenal’s embarrassing Carabao Cup elimination against Fleetwood Town, after the German international missed several excellent scoring opportunities during a night that quickly turned into a nightmare for the Gunners.
Arsenal entered the match expecting to secure a comfortable victory against their League Two opponents, but what followed was one of the most disappointing performances of their campaign. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Arteta’s side struggled to convert their superiority into goals before eventually crashing out of the competition following a penalty shootout.
Havertz became one of the major talking points after the final whistle, with his inability to take advantage of several promising opportunities raising questions about his finishing at a crucial moment for the club.
The German international was given opportunities to make a decisive difference, but Arsenal repeatedly failed to punish their opponents. His missed chances became particularly significant as Fleetwood grew in confidence and began believing that they could produce a remarkable upset.
According to reports following the match on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Havertz was among the Arsenal players who struggled to make the most of their opportunities. Sky Sports reported that he missed three or four significant chances during the game, contributing to the frustration surrounding Arsenal’s performance.
However, Arteta has not publicly confirmed that he specifically criticised Havertz after the match. His comments instead focused on the team’s collective failure to take advantage of the opportunities they created.
The Arsenal manager admitted that his team had produced enough attacking opportunities to win the match comfortably but failed to demonstrate the clinical finishing required to progress to the next round.
For Arteta, the disappointment was not simply about losing a cup tie. It was about watching his team dominate large portions of the contest without producing a scoreline that reflected its attacking opportunities.
Arsenal eventually drew 1-1 with Fleetwood before losing 5-3 on penalties, allowing the fourth-tier side to celebrate one of the biggest victories in their history.
Fleetwood took the lead through Aaron Loupalo-Bi in the first half after Arsenal struggled to deal with the hosts’ attacking movement. The goal immediately placed pressure on Arteta’s players, who had entered the contest as overwhelming favourites.
Arsenal responded by increasing their attacking pressure, but Havertz and his teammates struggled to find the finishing touch.
Viktor Gyökeres eventually restored parity after the interval, giving Arsenal another opportunity to take control of the match. However, the Gunners could not find the decisive second goal despite creating further opportunities.
Havertz’s missed chances became an important part of the story because Arsenal desperately needed someone to deliver a decisive moment.
For a player with his experience and technical ability, such opportunities represent situations in which he is expected to help his team secure victories.
Nevertheless, football can be unforgiving, and even experienced international players sometimes struggle in front of goal. The important question for Havertz will be how quickly he can respond to a disappointing performance and rediscover his confidence.
Arteta has repeatedly emphasised the importance of efficiency in the final third, particularly when Arsenal face opponents who defend deep and attempt to frustrate them.
Against Fleetwood, Arsenal enjoyed plenty of possession but struggled to create the kind of decisive advantage that would have prevented the match from becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
The manager acknowledged that his players had shown commitment and determination, refusing to blame their attitude for the defeat. Instead, he stressed that Arsenal needed to make better use of their opportunities.
Speaking after the match, Arteta said: “We had so much of the ball, had so many chances, so many shots and if you want the margins to be bigger than going to penalties, you have to capitalise on that. We didn’t and football is about that.”
Those comments reflected the central problem that undermined Arsenal’s performance.
Possession alone cannot guarantee victory, and creating opportunities means little if a team repeatedly fails to convert them into goals.
For Havertz, the match provided a painful reminder of how quickly a difficult evening can develop when attacking players fail to make the most of their chances.
The German has previously demonstrated his ability to contribute important goals and intelligent movement in attacking positions. However, Arsenal need greater consistency from their forwards if they want to compete successfully across multiple competitions.
The Fleetwood defeat has therefore intensified the discussion surrounding Arsenal’s attacking options and the importance of improving their finishing.
Supporters were particularly frustrated because the opposition was a League Two side that had been struggling near the bottom of its division. Arsenal were expected to demonstrate their superior quality, but instead allowed their opponents to remain in the contest until the final whistle.
The pressure eventually told during the penalty shootout, when Arsenal failed to convert enough of their attempts to secure qualification.
Havertz was among the players involved in a difficult evening for the club, although the elimination cannot fairly be attributed to one individual alone.
Arsenal conceded a poor opening goal, struggled to create a decisive advantage and were unable to finish the match despite having opportunities to do so. Max Dowman’s late red card added further drama, but even with ten men, Arsenal still created chances to win.
The defeat exposed several problems that Arteta will need to address, including the team’s attacking efficiency, decision-making in the final third and ability to handle difficult cup matches.
For Havertz, the immediate priority will be to respond positively in training and demonstrate that the Fleetwood performance was an isolated setback rather than a sign of a wider problem.
Arteta will need his attacking players to show greater composure when the team returns to domestic competition. Arsenal cannot afford to waste similar opportunities in important Premier League matches, where missed chances could have serious consequences for their title ambitions.
The manager must also decide how best to organise his attacking options to ensure that the team benefits from the strengths of its available players.
Havertz’s versatility remains valuable because he can operate in several attacking roles, but his selection will inevitably attract scrutiny whenever he fails to make a decisive contribution in front of goal.
That scrutiny comes with representing a club where expectations remain extremely high.
Arsenal supporters want to see their team convert dominance into convincing victories, particularly against opponents who are expected to struggle to match their technical quality.
The defeat against Fleetwood was therefore more than an ordinary cup disappointment. It raised uncomfortable questions about whether Arsenal’s attacking players can consistently deliver when the team needs them most.
Nevertheless, Arteta must ensure that criticism of individual performances does not distract the squad from its wider objectives.
The manager has previously shown a willingness to continue trusting players through difficult periods, provided they demonstrate the determination to improve and contribute to the team.
Havertz will hope to receive the opportunity to respond in Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures, where a strong performance could quickly change the conversation surrounding his display against Fleetwood.
The German international has the experience to understand that one poor performance does not define an entire career. However, he will also know that opportunities to impress become increasingly important when a team is fighting to win major trophies.
Arsenal have now been eliminated from the Carabao Cup, leaving Arteta to concentrate on the competitions that remain available to his team.
The manager will expect a stronger response from his attacking players, particularly when Arsenal next find themselves in positions where they must turn possession and chances into goals.
For now, the Fleetwood defeat will remain a painful memory for everyone connected with the club.
Havertz has come under scrutiny for his missed opportunities, but the responsibility for the result rests with the entire team.
Arteta’s challenge is to ensure that the disappointment becomes a lesson rather than a recurring problem.
If Arsenal can improve their finishing and demonstrate greater composure in front of goal, they will have a better chance of avoiding similar setbacks during the remainder of the season.
For Havertz, the message is straightforward: the best response to a difficult performance is to return stronger, take the next opportunity when it arrives and help Arsenal move forward from one of the most disappointing nights of their campaign.