7 months ago
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Arsenal have changed their plans ahead of the summer transfer window as a consequence of Kai Havertz’s superb run of form.
Eyebrows were raised in the summer when Mikel Arteta sanctioned a £65million move for a player who had flattered to deceive during the course of his Chelsea career.
Havertz was initially earmarked as a replacement for Granit Xhaka, who joined Bayer Leverkusen following, by some distance, his best season in an Arsenal shirt.
Despite the relentless backing of his new manager, Havertz struggled to adapt to this new role and it is only since being redeployed as a central striker that he has begun to have a major impact on his side’s title challenge.
Arsenal had been in the market for a new centre forward in the summer and had been considering investing heavily in the likes of Alexander Isak, Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen.
Havertz’s improvement, however, means Arsenal are now looking at a different profile of forward to compliment their existing options.
Arsenal are interested in Sporting Lisbon’s prolific Viktor Gyokeres but have baulked at the Portuguese club’s valuation, while they are also admirers of Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, who they view as one for the future.
The Gunners are also likely to be in the market for a wide forward capable of providing competition and cover for both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, while Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is the No.1 midfield target amid uncertainty over the futures of Thomas Partey and Declan Rice.
Havertz, meanwhile, now has nine goals for the season following his man of the match display at Brighton last weekend, after which Arteta confessed he had no initially planned to use the 24-year-old in such an attacking role when he signed him.
Mikel Arteta’s change of plan for Kai Haverz
He said: ‘A lot of times the players decide where they have to play. You can have certain ideas but then you see certain relationships and it flows. When it flows you have to let it go.
‘That’s what is happening with Kai at the moment, and he feels really comfortable there. The team is really comfortable with him there and the rest has happened naturally.
‘He’s certainly having a huge impact on the team. His overall performances have been really good and now his numbers for goal contributions are really high.
‘He needs to maintain that. I think his understanding with the attacking players was superb. I think they had real purpose and connection and a lot of clarity on where to attack and we created many chances.
‘He has some fantastic players around him and we have tried to create the right environment for him, which I think is very important for any player, that they feel confident and we hopefully give him the love he needs.
‘He has the admiration of the rest of the players and staff at the club and now the supporters of our club, for sure.’
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