Forget the money spent, Mikel Arteta’s best Arsenal eleven doesn’t include ‘brilliant’ new signing

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Mikel Arteta has assembled an exceptional squad this summer at Arsenal, which should be capable of competing on multiple fronts and for major silverware this season.

Andrea Berta spent £250 million on eight players, bolstering Arteta’s ensemble in almost every position.

Viktor Gyokeres arrived for £63 million from Sporting CP as the marquee signing, while the likes of Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze all joined the North London club for significant fees.

As well as these big-money additions, several squad players were brought in who should raise the overall floor for the Gunners, meaning Arteta has at least two exceptional options in every area of the pitch.

• READ MORE: Confirmed Arsenal summer 2025 transfer ins and outs, signings and done deals

Viktor Gyokeres doesn’t start over Kai Havertz in Mikel Arteta’s best team

Gyokeres scored 54 goals in 52 games last season for Sporting CP.

Despite boasting this exceptional goalscoring record in the Portuguese top flight, the Swede has struggled to adapt to the physicality of English football in the early stages of his Arsenal career.

Finding it difficult to cope with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate’s intensity at Anfield, it’s clear that Gyokeres, who has been described as ‘brilliant’, will need time to adapt to the Premier League.

Kai Havertz is out with a serious knee injury, but arguably would be starting over the 27-year-old if he were fit, while the new man acclimatises to his new teammates.

The German has been a reliable number nine for Arsenal over the last 18 months, leading the press effectively for the Gunners whilst linking play exceptionally and still putting up respectable numbers in front of goal.

If Arteta had both available for a game against an elite team tomorrow, he’d almost certainly pick Havertz over Gyokeres, and he probably ought to.

Arsenal know what they’ll get from the ex-Chelsea man, while Gyokeres’ performance level is a lot more unpredictable at this point.

Viktor Gyokeres’ statistics vs Kai Havertz’s statistics

Gyokeres’ statistics in the Primeira Liga were outrageous.

Scoring 39 goals in 33 games, the Sweden international was unstoppable against Portuguese opposition.

However, when looking slightly beneath the surface, the difference between his data and Havertz’s isn’t too stark, particularly when adjusting for league quality.

While Gyokeres took more shots than his German counterpart, the gap in their non-penalty expected goals wasn’t as steep as would be expected based on the narratives around them and league difficulty.

Essentially, it’s not yet obvious if the new man will be better than Havertz over the course of the season, and given Arteta’s pragmatic tendencies, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Spaniard revert to the 26-year-old when he’s fit again.