Havertz's struggles are Arteta's fault says Arsenal legend

Stuart Telford

• 12 Nov 2023 10:21 GMT
• 3 min read

Kai Havertz has struggled since his £65 million transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal this summer, but Paul Merson thinks Mikel Arteta is to blame.

Havertz has only scored once in 19 games for Arsenal, assisting another, with questions growing as to whether he belongs in the Gunners' best XI.

Arsenal beat Burnley 3-1 on Saturday but Havertz was hooked inside the hour, replaced by Fabio Vieira, and the Portuguese could replace him in Arteta's midfield three more regularly.

READ: Arteta turns to former club in bid to strengthen Arsenal midfield

But it is Havertz position there that is part of the problem according to Merson. Havertz was a No.10 at Bayer Leverkusen and a False 9 at Chelsea…

Merson: 'I don't think he's a midfielder'

"I feel sorry for him. I don't think he's a midfield player I think he's a centre forward," Merson, who won the league with Arsenal in 1989 and 1991, told Sky Sports. "He's 6'4", maybe he's a No.10. He's a big lad.

"I hope he does well. I think he's a special player and he's struggling. Everyone struggles in their career and he's having that moment at the moment and hopefully he gets through it."

READ: 'Cole Palmer is who Chelsea thought Kai Havertz would be'

Real Madrid had also been linked with a move for Havertz this summer, but it is difficult to imagine where he would have fitted in at the Bernabeu such has been Jude Bellingham's impact at No.10.

Havertz is still valued at €68M (circa £60m) by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, so it is too soon to suggest the Gunners overpaid for his services, and perhaps goals atre not the only measure by which Havertz should be measured.

He would no doubt get more in attack, but the No.9 position is likely to be blocked come January, with Arsenal shortlisting Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Brentford's Ivan Toney for the role.