Kai Havertz might have had reason to suspect his involvement in Arsenal’s lineup was waning following the acquisition of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP. The Gunners have been in pursuit of a new striker for some time, finally clinching their target on Saturday evening with the £63.7 million signing of Gyokeres.
Havertz endured a spell on the sidelines, missing 12 games in the latter part of last season due to a hamstring injury. This absence, paired with Gabriel Jesus’ injury, left Arsenal short of a recognised centre-forward. Manager Mikel Arteta occasionally deployed Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard in central roles, a tactical compromise that hindered Arsenal’s aspirations of overhauling Liverpool in the race for the Premier League title.
Originally a striker at Bayer Leverkusen, Havertz was similarly utilised during his tenure at Chelsea. However, upon his move to Arsenal, Arteta envisaged a different role for the versatile German. “He will bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield and variety to our play,” Arteta remarked upon Havertz’s signing.
Despite Gyokeres’ arrival potentially signalling a reduced role for Havertz as a forward, the additions of Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard hinted at increased competition in midfield as well. The introduction of Gyokeres to Arsenal supporters before the pre-season clash against Newcastle United in Singapore was a moment of anticipation fulfilled, as fans welcomed the much-desired striking reinforcement.
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