Mikel Arteta slammed for £22m transfer ‘gamble’ that cost Arsenal top spot in PL

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Arsenal signed Kai Havertz in the summer to replace the outgoing Granit Xhaka.

After a rollercoaster spell with the club, Granit Xhaka was a fan-favourite at the Emirates Stadium by the time he departed Arsenal.

Last season, deployed in a more advanced midfield role by Mikel Arteta, the Swiss star blossomed. He racked up 9 goals and 7 assists over the course of what was by far his best campaign in red and white.

However, the Gunners still opted to accept a £22 million offer from Bayer Leverkusen for the 31-year-old in the summer. 

The north London club then shelled out £65 million on his replacement, Kai Havertz. The German arrived from Chelsea, where he had struggled to consistently shine as a striker, and was reinvented as a left-eight midfielder by Arteta.

It is fair to say that Havertz didn’t hit the ground running at Arsenal. The 24-year-old looked short on confidence and struggled to impact matches from his unfamiliar berth in the middle of the park. Havertz attracted plenty of criticism as he worked to adapt to his midfield role.

Although the 42-cap Germany international improved his form significantly towards the end of the calendar year, he is yet to become as influential in that part of the pitch as Xhaka was last season. 

Did Mikel Arteta make a mistake in signing Kai Havertz and letting Granit Xhaka leave Arsenal?

Journalist Charles Watts believes that Arteta’s experiment with Havertz has hurt Arsenal this season. Speaking to Harry Symeou on The Chronicles of a Gooner, the reporter said, “I am convinced, absolutely convinced, that if Granit Xhaka was still here this season and playing in this Arsenal team, then they would be top of the Premier League right now.”

Watts was then asked if he feels Arteta made a mistake in letting Xhaka go and bringing Havertz in. He responded, “I think you’ve got to really, because it was his decision to do it…he took a bit of a gamble on Kai Havertz…at the minute, I don’t think it’s paid off.”

It is impossible to say for certain that Arsenal would now be top of the table if Xhaka were still at the club, of course. However, the Gunners are a less efficient and explosive attacking force this season than they were last. Their recent barren run of one goal in their last three matches is evidence enough of that. 

However, it is worth remembering that Arsenal were top of the table as recently as Christmas Day and there is still a long way to go. The Gunners are not out of this race. If Havertz can kick on again in the second half of the campaign he may well be able to silence his doubters for good.