
Despite Kai Havertz being a fantastic signing and having an impact in his two seasons at the Emirates, everyone outside Arsenal has suggested that the club needs a ‘true’ striker.
Havertz has scored 17 Premier League goals since he arrived in the summer of 2023. Despite being used in midfield during the early part of this career, the German has shone while starting up front.
It was Havertz’s goals at the tail end of last season that kept Arsenal in the title race until the final two games when Manchester City clinched the title.
Mikel Arteta on the other hand has full faith in the German and has urged him to score 20 goals this season:
“He certainly has all the qualities and he certainly has the ambition to [score 20 goals a season]. In the end, scoring goals sometimes are very small details and a lot of things have to go for you, but he’s got it and his mindset has changed a lot in regards to that. He certainly has ability to do it in my opinion.”
Arsenal linked with 29-goal striker

Viktor Gyokeres a goal celebrate during UEFA Champions league match, Sturm Graz – Sporting CP , 22. october 2024 Copyright: xMICHALxFAJT,ZOSPORTU.SKx DSC_3438

STURM GRAZ – SPORTING CP Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP during the UEFA Champions League, league stage match between SK Sturm Graz and Sporting Clube de Portugal. Klagenfurt, Austria, October 22, 2024.Photo by Branislav Racko Copyright: xx 080A0514
Bukayo Saka and Havertz have carried most of the goalscoring for Arsenal this season. The duo have scored 7 out of Arsenal’s 17 goals in the Premier League.
According to journalist Florian Plettenberg, Sporting CP star striker Viktor Gyokeres will be allowed to leave the club for around €60million. Arsenal are said to be one of the clubs interested in the Swede.
Gyokeres has been one of the best players in Portugal since joining last year; scoring 29 league goals in his first season at the club. The striker already has two goals in the Champions League this season.
Do the gunners need another striker?
Gabriel Jesus has not performed as well as Arsenal thought he would. The Brazilian’s highest league tally since he signed for the club is 11 goals, and his availability is also a huge concern.
Micah Richards voiced his concerns about Gabriel Jesus being the backup striker of the Arsenal team recently:
“I think it’s just frustrating for him [Arteta], you bring in Jesus as this striker, winger, forward whatever you want to call him and he’s not contributing enough in terms of goal threat. Maybe another forward [needs to be signed] just to help him out, relieve some of that pressure on [Kai] Havertz.”
Unless Gabriel Jesus can prove his worth to the club and stay fit till the end of the season, it might be time for Arsenal to move on from him.
