Mudryk trap dodged! Havertz patience has saved Arsenal from €100m mistake

Robin Bairner

• 12 Apr 2024 09:45 BST
• 9 min read

When Kai Havertz arrived at Arsenal from Chelsea last summer, the €75 million fee the Gunners spent on his transfer was surprising.

The Germany international had struggled at Stamford Bridge but Mikel Arteta seemed to have a different plan for him, using him in central midfield instead of the more advanced role he played with the Blues.

That has since been binned by the Spaniard, who has hinted the “experiment” of using Havertz deep is over.

READ MORE: Arsenal to sign top transfer target: INEVITABLE Arteta will get his man

Back in attack, the 24-year-old has shown his true worth. Suddenly confident again, he has scored five goals in his last seven Premier League games, largely playing as a centre forward in that time. As if that contribution was not enough, he has also chipped in four assists. The only game in which he has not was the scoreless draw against Manchester City.

If Arsenal go on to lift the Premier League title this season – and there’s a fair chance they will – Havertz’s efforts may just be decisive.

His contribution might not have been enough to stop Arteta from ploughing forward with a big-money move for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, but at least it means that the Emirates side are not being forced into any unwanted movement in the transfer market.

READ MORE: Arsenal set to lose 'best of the lot' academy graduate

How things change

Back in January, it appeared their lack of goals from the No.9 area might have forced them into a €100 million move for Ivan Toney. A 28-year-old with no experience of playing at a leading club like Arsenal, he simply would not have been worth it.

Even at his peak last season, Toney’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) never passed the €36.5m mark.

Unsurprisingly, Havertz’s recent displays have prompted the Gunners to reassess their stance on the Brentford forward.

Kai Havertz's development vs Ivan Toney

Having been wise enough to avoid falling into the trap of signing Toney in January, just as they were shrewd enough not to go toe-to-toe with Chelsea for Mykhailo Mudryk a year earlier, Arsenal have spared themselves an unnecessary expense and potential transfer market embarrassment.

The Blues have learned the hard way that forcing through a transfer no matter the cost is rarely the right thing to do. Having rabidly chased Mudryk 15 months ago, he has returned only four Premier League goals and another four assists.

Given Toney has failed to score in his last eight for Brentford, Arsenal might have suffered similar embarrassment had they moved for the once-capped England star.

Their patience with Havertz has been rewarded, and the prize may just be the Premier League title.