Havertz hints Arsenal are sleepwalking towards €100m mistake

Robin Bairner

• 6 Apr 2024 21:08 BST
• 4 min read

Kai Havertz was on target once again as Arsenal eased to a 3-0 Premier League win over Brighton that sends Mikel Arteta’s side back to the top of the table.

What promised to be a tricky outing for the Gunners proved, instead, rather routine. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring before the former Chelsea man continued his resurgence with a predatory finish after the break. By full-time Leandro Trossard had run clear to add a third.

Not only are Arsenal top of the table, they have scored more goals than any other team and conceded fewer goals. They are, at present, the complete package.

READ MORE: Arsenal favourite Havertz aims cheeky dig at Chelsea

Bukayo Saka spoke after the match of the defensive improvements that have been made and that if they keep a clean sheet, they feel they have the firepower to win games.

And yet Arteta wants more still.

Arsenal’s summer transfer priority is a goal-scoring No.9. FootballTransfers exclusively revealed that Sporting CP hitman Viktor Gyokeres is the player they want. But is he the type of player they need?

READ MORE: Surprise Ramsdale replacement spotted in Arsenal training

Arsenal risk upsetting their delicate balance

It’s true that there is a sense that the Gunners are overly reliant on Saka at times, yet the 22-year-old is arguably more valuable for his assists than his goals. With 17 strikes this season, he is only five clear of Trossard in all competitions, while Havertz and Martin Odegaard are both in double figures. Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are not so far behind.

This multi-dimensional threat that Arsenal possess, which was epitomised at Brighton as three of their leading marksmen found the target at the Amex, should be seen as a strength rather than a weakness.

Perhaps Arteta is seeking to emulate the success that Manchester City had in signing Erling Haaland. He will do well. Haaland is clearly a generational striker and was picked up cheap due to his release clause.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are set to pay around double what City did to get the Norway international and will likely land an inferior player.

By all means, Arteta should be seeking to add to the squad, but splashing nine figures on a player who may only serve to disrupt the delicate balance of this excellent team may not be the way to do it.