Former Gunner’s defender William Gallas has called on Gunner’s manager Mikel Arteta to sign a replacement for Kai Havertz. Gallas feels that the German international is far from being “world-class.” He said that Havertz is nothing more than a good player and cannot lead Arsenal to claim the EPL title.
The Journey Of Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz moved to Emirates in 2023 from the Stamford for a £65 million fee. At Chelsea, he produced some magic moments, such as his winner in the 2021 UCL final. But many viewed his overall contribution as not being commensurate with the £72 million transfer price from Bayer Leverkusen.
At Arsenal, Havertz has found it difficult to settle in. Last season, he played in 51 games for Arsenal and helped the team in their title challenge. Yet, the critics, even Gallas, are still wondering if Havertz is good enough to make the Gunners a real title contender.
A Good Start To The Season
Havertz kicked off the 2024/25 season in good form scoring six goals in his first ten outings. But since October 5, that has waned significantly with just one goal scored in the Carabao Cup against Preston. This inconsistency is precisely what Gallas was referring to.
Gallas believes Havertz lacks the cutting edge Arsenal needs. “Havertz is a good player, but he’s not top class. I’m sorry, but he’s nowhere near a world-class level,” he said.
Gallas Wants Arsenal to Target Victor Osimhen
According to Gallas, to reach a new level, Arsenal must now sign Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen. Already on loan from Napoli to Galatasaray, Osimhen had been connected to Arsenal last summer as well but found himself in Turkey.
Gallas was also surprised by why a player with such a high caliber is playing for Galatasaray. He wants him to play in the Premier League, at the very highest level of football. He says all this because he believes in the talent of Osimhen and thinks he can perform at the top level for Arsenal.
Osimhen shone at Napoli, proving himself to be a lethal striker. Gallas feels Arsenal need a forward of his caliber to challenge clubs like Manchester City and Liverpool.
Current Status Of Arsenal
Arsenal mixed up bag in the last several weeks. Before the break, they were four Premier League games without a win. But came back so strongly with a 3-0 home win against Nottingham Forest. The Gunners are fourth in the league, one point behind City and nine points off leaders Liverpool.
According to Gallas, the Gunners of Emirates should strengthen their reserve if they want to compete at the top level. “Man City and Liverpool stay at a high level because they have strong squads. Even their bench players are top international talent,” he explained.
Need For Depth For Competition
Arsenal has shown flashes of brilliance under Arteta but has struggled with depth. Gallas emphasized the importance of competition within the team. “If you have the same starting XI every week, performance levels drop,” he explained.
Pressure continues mounting on Arteta as Arsenal strength needs to be perfected. According to Gallas, one remedy is to bring in a proven goal-scorer, like Osimhen, to take the team to the next level.
Conclusion
Certainly, the moments of brilliance from Kai Havertz haven’t quite done enough to convince critics fully. Fans and pundits alike await more from a player with such a price tag and reputation. Hence, season after season, Arteta will be left to decide to persist with Havertz or make a bold move in the transfer market. Something is for sure: Arsenal’s journey toward ending their 21-year drought in the English Premier League title will depend on getting these decisions right.
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