Arteta already urged to axe Havertz at Arsenal

Stuart Telford

• 16 Jul 2023 12:37 BST
• 3 min read

Kai Havertz's Arsenal career is only 45 minutes of a friendly against Nuremberg old, but Darren Bent already thinks the former Chelsea man shouldn't get in the first XI.

Havertz completed a £65 million transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal last month, with Mikel Arteta excited to sign a player who can operate in more than on position.

An attacking midfielder par excellence when he broke through at Bayer Leverkusen, Havertz was used more frequently in attack at Chelsea, and scored the winning goal in their Champions League final victory over Manchester City in 2021.

READ: Thomas de-Partey: Arsenal man 'agrees terms with Saudi club'

Havertz has been joined in a new-look Arsenal squad by Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, but Bent, who starred as a Tottenham Hotspur striker but grew up supporting Arsenal, isn't excited about the former's acquisition.

"I'd keep Thomas Partey," he tweeted in response to news the Ghanaian has agreed terms with a Saudi Pro League club, thought to be Khaleej FC.

Havertz 'don't get in'

"Partey, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, that's a serious midfield combination - gives Rice more of a license to go forward."

When one Gunners fan responded with "Where's Havertz playing then?" Bent simply replied "He don't."

READ: Pochettino to banish THREE players at Chelsea

Havertz has some headline-grabbing achievements, but he only managed seven goals in 35 Premier League games last season, and Chelsea were happy to cash in even though Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are also for sale this summer.

Havertz could yet play in the final third at Arsenal, although Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli will provide stiff competition. Folarin Balogun, who starred on loan at Reims last season, is for sale, however.

Havertz is valued at €70.3m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, and if Arteta can get the best out of him then Bent might live to regret his words.