Arvydas Novikovas

Club career

Novikovas started his professional football career in Lithuania, his hometown of Vilnius. He first played for the youth side of FK Vilnius and on loan to sister-club Interas-AE Visaginas. At the time in Lithuania, he impressed while on trial with Benfica, but decided to stay at the club.

Hearts

In September 2008, Novikovas signed for Hearts. He made his first team debut for Hearts in the last game of the 2008–09 Scottish Premier League season, a goalless draw against Celtic, coming on as a substitute in the 51st minute for David Templeton.

In the 2009–10 season, Novikovas soon earned a first team playing time, all spending time on the bench, in numbers of games. Towards the end of the 2009–10 season, Novikovas signed a contract with the club, with a three-year deal, which kept him until 2013. In the 2010–11 season, his first team became difficult for him to come by. Despite the first team lack of opportunities, He scored his first league goal for Hearts in the 5–0 win over Aberdeen at Tynecastle on 11 December 2010. Throughout the reminder of the 2010–11 season, he went to Scottish Premier League's rival St Johnstone.

In the 2011–12 season, on 13 August 2011, he struck his second goal for Hearts, again against Aberdeen, after starting the game up front alongside John Sutton, who scored the other two goals in a 3–0 victory for Hearts. A week after scoring his second goal, he made his European debut, where he played 90 minutes, in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League; Qualification Round, in a 0–0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur, which Hearts were eliminated, following a 5–0 loss in the first leg. He was in and out of the first team since joining the club. In a 2–2 draw with Dundee United, Novikovas came off the bench to score an equaliser – and his third goal for the club. After the match, Novikovas said his equaliser against Dundee United was the best he ever scored.

In the 2012–13 season, Novikovas first team opportunities started to increase, following a string of players departure. He scored his fourth goal for the club, in a 2–2 draw against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 18 August 2012 and then played both legs in the Europa League Qualification Round against Liverpool, but they proved to be too strong and failed to win either legs losing 1–0 and drew 1–1 respectively, eliminating Hearts out of the Europa League. In March 2013, Novikovas was then included in the substitute bench for the final of the Scottish League Cup against St Mirren and would come on for Jamie Walker on the 64th minute, as Hearts lost 3–2.

The official Hearts website announced that he had left the club to pursue his career elsewhere on 31 May 2013. After his departure, Edinburgh Evening News reported that if Novikovas joined a new club, the club would receive £100,000 compensation.

St Johnstone (loan)

On the last day of the January 2011 transfer window, he went on loan to St Johnstone until the end of the 2010–11 season. Novikovas made his debut for St Johnstone in their 2–0 victory over Hamilton on 1 February. In all he made six appearances for the Perth side.

FC Erzgebirge Aue

On 22 June 2013, it was announced that Novikovas signed a three-year deal with Erzgebirge Aue. It is thought that Novikovas was signed as Jan Hochscheidt replacement who has moved to Eintracht Braunschweig. During first league match for his new team Novikovas received two yellow cards and was sent off. In fourth league match for Aue he scored double, helping team to reach 2-1 victory over FC Energie Cottbus.

International career

Novikovas represented the Lithuania under-21's when he was just a 16-year-old.

In May 2009, he was called up to the Lithuania squad, for their FIFA World Cup qualifier with Romania. On 9 September, Novikovas scored for Lithuania under-21's 1–1 against Macedona under-21 in the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification Group 9 match.

On 25 May 2010, he gained his first cap against Ukraine in Kharkiv.

International goals

Career statistics

As of 20 August 2017

International