Havertz's form proves Arsenal DON'T need Gyokeres

Cameron Smith

• 28 Apr 2024 16:00 BST
• 3 min read

Do Arsenal need to sign Viktor Gyokeres this summer? Kai Havertz’s form as a number nine suggests they don’t.

The Germany international endured a tricky start to life with the Gunners following his €75 million move from Chelsea last summer, but he has well and truly found his feet now.

Initially deployed in midfield, Havertz struggled to match Granit Xhaka’s performances as a left central midfielder, however the 24-year-old looks at home in a number nine position following a mid-season positional change.

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Havertz showed glimpses of talent in this role during his time at Chelsea, but the German often appeared to be a square peg in a round hole no matter where he played at Stamford Bridge.

However, he has developed supremely under Mikel Arteta’s coaching and Havertz now looks like a reliable goal scoring striker.

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Do Arsenal need to sign Viktor Gyokeres?

Havertz typically enjoyed purple patches at Chelsea, but he has found some consistency at the Emirates Stadium and he is flourishing alongside the likes of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard.

He notched a goal and an assist during Arsenal’s North London Derby win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday to take his Premier League season totals to 12 goals and six assists - an impressive tally considering Havertz only scored once during the opening 12 weeks of the campaign.

Furthermore, the ex-Chelsea man has eight goals and five assists in his last 11 league appearances. Sure, he was unable to influence things against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, but Havertz has done enough to prove he is good enough to be Arsenal’s starting striker next year.

The Gunners are heavily interested in signing Sporting CP goal machine Gyokeres this summer, as exclusively revealed by FootballTransfers, although the Sweden international is set to cost €100m - the value of his release clause.

Gyokeres is a fantastic player and a great goalscorer, but he may be a €100m luxury Arsenal don’t currently need thanks to Havertz’s form.