Mikel Arteta may have preferred to steer clear of the narrative surrounding the opening Premier League match, given the heightened discussions surrounding the transfer window and Arsenal’s forward line. There was always going to be a lot of pressure, but Kai Havertz felt like there was even more pressure than usual.
The only new player Arsenal has brought into their senior squad thus far is Riccardo Calafiori, which has fans excited about more acquisitions. There are less than two weeks left in the transfer window, and more people are calling for more money to be invested.
Havertz, though, answered all of these worries with a goal in the first half of Arsenal’s victory. One could say that this was a classic center forward goal when a strong header found the back of the net following a well-executed cross by Bukayo Saka. Havertz, however, did not quit there; he persisted in posing a constant threat to the visiting squad.
Havertz was brought down in the box twice, and both times the penalty claims were rejected. In spite of this, he won headers, connected with teammates to create more opportunities, and made another contribution late in the game. While Saka should get most of the credit for the goal—a trademark move in which he cuts in from the right and shoots with his left foot past José Sá—Haverz’s movement, awareness, and execution were crucial in setting up his teammate and ensuring Arsenal’s victory.
Although Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly feel more confident when answering questions regarding the forward position, this performance won’t totally stop the ongoing discussion on social media about Arsenal’s need for new signings. Despite the constant mention of names like Viktor Gyökeres and Victor Osimhen, the market has not provided many clear options for strikers. Both, though, would come with a hefty price tag, and neither would currently push Havertz out of the starting lineup.
Thus, it might be better for Arsenal to concentrate on bolstering the wide areas if they are going to spend money. Saka was replaced in the second half, not because of an injury, but because he was taken hard by several players and went down clutching his knee in the first half. Only Reiss Nelson offers a natural third option on the wing, and he’s currently being linked to a move away, while Leandro Trossard came off the bench.
Unless, of course, Havertz has already started to fill that role, this situation emphasizes the need to bring in another winger and supports the notion that Arsenal might benefit from patience in finding the ideal striker to take the team to the next level.
