Ian Wright calls for ‘brilliant’ Havertz to start ahead of 24-year-old Arsenal ace

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Arsenal legend Ian Wright has called for Kai Havertz to replace Eddie Nketiah in the regular starting XI.

Eddie Nketiah was picked to lead the line for Arsenal on Sunday against Manchester City. However, it was Kai Havertz who came off the bench to have a greater impact in that role.

Nketiah has started seven of Arsenal’s eight Premier League matches so far this season, and already has two goals to his name. Mikel Arteta knows what he is going to get from the hard-working 24-year-old Hale End academy graduate.

However, against truly elite opposition, such as Manchester City, the No. 14 struggled to impose himself. This was very much the case again at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Havertz replaced Nketiah in the 75th minute, and his physicality posed a problem for the visitors’ rearguard. The £280,000-a-week 24-year-old made a nuisance of himself up front and was on hand to prove an assist for Gabriel Martinelli’s winning goal with a neat lay-off.

Havertz offers Arsenal something new

Arsenal legend Ian Wright was hugely impressed by how Havertz impacted the match, and provided more threat than Nketiah managed. Speaking on his Wrighty’s House podcast, he said of the £65 million summer signing, “if he [Havertz] doesn’t go in there to lay it back down, we may not get that [goal].”

“Because some of the times, Eddie like I said, he did a lot of work today, made so many runs. But there’s times when you look in the build up when he’s either too far on the left if it’s on the right, or too far on the right if it’s on the left.”

“And you just need that body, that focal point in the middle, that Thomas Partey can chip it in to, who can make sure that he chests it down to hold it and lay it back off. And I think that Kai Havertz coming on and doing that was absolutely brilliant for us today.”

Unless Gabriel Jesus is fit and available to play through the middle, there is a strong argument that Havertz ought to be spearheading the Arsenal attack. With his technical ability and aerial prowess he offers another dimension to how Arteta’s side can build up attacks. As he gains confidence, he will only get better, too.

Nketiah still has a role to play at the Emirates Stadium, but at this stage in his career he isn’t of the standard required to start huge games such as this one. Havertz brings more balance and power to the Arsenal attack and deserves a run in the team in this role.