Arsenal’s summer business has come under scrutiny as the squad continues to falter midway through the season, and Mikel Arteta has been told he made a huge mistake.
With Granit Xhaka departing, Kai Havertz came in as a surprise addition from Chelsea for an initial £60m, and has received heavy criticism for what has been an underwhelming start to his Arsenal career.
Arsenal are struggling for goals, with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah coming under heavy fire for failing to convert their chances, and it has been suggested by many that a new centre-forward is necessary.
Havertz started upfront rather than in midfield against Liverpool, but missed several chances as Arsenal were eliminated from the FA Cup, and former Liverpool star Graeme Souness has now claimed that signing him instead of a natural striker was a huge mistake.
Graeme Souness lambasts Arteta decision to sign Kai Havertz
Speaking on talkSPORT’s Simon and Souness series, the former player and manager claimed that spending such a huge fee on Havertz instead of a striker, whilst the club also had Emile Smith Rowe, could end up costing Arteta dearly.
“Smith Rowe. I like him. As a midfield player, running into the box, clever passes,” he stated.
“Everything seems to be done when he’s sprinting, which I like. He’s a goal threat. And then Arteta spends £60 million on Havertz.
“So the point I wanted to make is that £60 million would be a fair criticism, I think.
“When building a football team, you want to strengthen the weakest part of the team.
“I think it was clear for most people that Arsenal needed another striker with Jesus, so you go and take Kai Havertz from Chelsea for big money, when really you have a homegrown player who is every bit as good as him.
“That £60 million should have been directed towards a striker, and that might cost him.”
Arsenal got their priorities wrong with Havertz
The signing of Havertz has prevented Smith Rowe from gaining a fair opportunity after recovering from his injury problems which kept him out for most of last season.
This would not have been a problem if Havertz had settled well, but he has struggled to replace Xhaka’s ability to progress the ball when in midfield, and his performance upfront against Liverpool showed that he is far from the clinical centre-forward that Arsenal need.
A centre-midfielder more comfortable on the ball, or a centre-forward with a better goal record could have been signed for the huge price tag Havertz came with, and Arsenal may now need to spend heavily to correct this error, with Martin Zubimendi and Ivan Toney linked in both positions.
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