5 months ago
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Didi Hamann believes Arsenal need to sign a new striker to replace Kai Havertz to finally end their wait for a Premier League title.
The Gunners have twice came close to winning the title under Mikel Arteta, finishing five points behind Manchester City in 2022-23 and two points behind the champions last season.
After a difficult start to his Arsenal career following a £65m move from Chelsea last summer, Havertz contributed to the Gunners’ title challenge, scoring 13 goals and making seven assists in the Premier League.
Despite Havertz enjoying a ‘decent end’ to the season, Hamann says the 25-year-old is ‘not a centre forward’ and must be upgraded if Arsenal are serious about winning the title.
Arsenal had expressed interest in signing Benjamin Sesko this summer but the Slovenia striker has decided to sign a contract extension with RB Leipzig.
‘Kai Havertz had a decent end to his season with Arsenal,’ Hamann said on the In The Zone’ podcast.
‘I’ve seen him since he was 17 years old and the kid has always been so good. When I watch him, I sometimes think he probably doesn’t know how good he actually is.
‘Even though he scored a few goals for Germany now, I just think he’s capable of so much more. But he is not a centre forward and I don’t think he wants to play as a centre forward.
‘He’s 25 and at a stage now in his career where he has to choose his position. He has to nail it down, because he’s playing wherever Arsenal or Germany need him, and he plays there.
‘If Arsenal bring in a centre forward, which they probably have to if they want to win the league, it’ll be very interesting to see where Havertz plays or if he plays.’
Havertz got on the scoresheet in Germany’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Scotland in the first game of Euro 2024.
The forward will hope to continue to impress as the Euros hosts face Group A rivals Hungary and Switzerland ahead of what they hope will be a deep run in the knockout stages.
Despite missing out on Sesko, Arsenal could still sign a new striker for Arteta this summer and have been linked Ivan Toney, Alexander Isak and Ollie Watkins.
Ex-Arsenal star Theo Walcott believes Newcastle United’s Isak or Aston Villa’s Watkins would both be ideal summer signings for the Gunners.
‘Arsenal did great, they competed throughout the whole season and learnt a lot from previous mistakes,’ Walcott told The Sun.
‘I think what Mikel Arteta has done and the atmosphere at Arsenal is incredible. What we are missing is a striker, and to have that balance on the bench.
‘I’d say that’s the one thing, maybe Mikel didn’t trust his bench as much.
‘I’m looking at someone like an Alexander Isak or an Ollie Watkins who’s been established in the Premier League.
‘We may look abroad but I’m a big believer in someone who is proven in the Premier League.’
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