Benjamin Sesko and £51m ace join as 17-year-old changes role – Kai Havertz’s Arsenal issue

Kai Havertz looked to be the final piece of the Arsenal puzzle last season, but the Arsenal forward could soon find himself playing second fiddle

Kai Havertz could be on a path to the Arsenal bench.

Last year, the German, 25, was pivotal for the Gunners, establishing himself as Mikel Arteta’s go-to man to lead the frontline. However, the injury of Bukayo Saka looks to have exposed the ex-Chelsea forward’s lack of cutting edge without the England international buzzing around him.

With Gabriel Jesus also suffering another long-term injury, Arsenal look set to enter the transfer market for at least one centre-forward. While Havertz appears to still retain the belief of Arteta, Arsenal’s potential transfer business could bump him out of the starting eleven.

Mirror Football has a look at the potential transfer dealings that could reduce Havertz to the role of second-choice striker and midfielder.

Zubimendi’s £51m arrival

Despite Arsenal’s evident need for a new striker, they are now on the verge of signing Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi. While it looks like any move for the Euro 2024 winner would most likely see him remain in Spain until the end of the season, it’s not inconceivable that his arrival could threaten Havertz’s position.

While he mostly operates in the forward line, Arteta has also used Havertz in central midfield. Zubimendi’s arrival will mean Arteta has Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard and the Sociedad man to choose from.

If Havertz cannot command a place in the forward line, then it’s difficult to see how Havertz would fit in amongst the stellar roster of midfield talent at the Emirates Stadium.

Ethan Nwaneri position change

With Arsenal suffering from a lack of goals and an injury crisis in the frontline, Arteta has had to get creative. The Spaniard recently claimed 17-year-old talent Ethan Nwaneri has the quality and enthusiasm to learn how to become a centre-forward.

Arteta said: “Ethan can play as a right attacking midfielder, a left attacking midfielder. He can play as a right winger and there is another position I think he can develop into – No9. He has got the goal in front of him and he looks at the goal and he has a tremendous ability to put the ball in the back of the net.”

Should Nwaneri establish himself as a quality striker, Havertz would certainly be at risk of being benched by the teenage prospect. This is more of an unlikely scenario, but considering the Gunners’ recent poor track record of securing their top attacking targets, it would not be surprising if Arteta deploys Nwaneri into the middle of Arsenal’s attacking line.

Benjamin Sesko arrival

He’s fast, tall, strong, and has a ball-striking ability that is the envy of many; Sesko looks tailor made for the Premier League. The 21-year-old Slovenian has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium ever since he first broke onto the scene at RB Salzburg as a teenager.

A January move would be difficult, but a summer approach is expected to be made by Arsenal. Unlike Havertz, Sesko is a natural centre-forward and, barring poor form or an injury, it’s difficult to see how he would be dislodged up front by anyone at the Gunners.

Havertz’s lengthy back catalogue of missing good chances suggest he does not have the innate striker’s instinct that all top goal-scorers have. That could prove fatal for him given Sesko has that in abundance.

The immediate Vlahovic threat

All of the aforementioned concerns for Havertz are either long-term projects or players who may or may not arrive in the summer. Yet, the potential arrival of Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic will be an immediate concern for Havertz.

The towering Serbian has been linked with Arsenal since the 2022 January transfer window, when he snubbed a move to north London to move to Turin in a deal worth £64 million. Arsenal have reportedly had a request to loan the forward turned down by the Italian giants.

However, it’s also understood a straight-up purchase or loan with an option to buy may persuade the Serie A giants to sell. Vlahovic is a more aggressive and clinical forward than Havertz and, if the ex-Fiorentina ace was to move to the Emirates, it would be difficult to see where the latter fits in to Arteta’s staring XI.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.