Kai Havertz sends Mikel Arteta an Arsenal message amid Benjamin Sesko summer transfer links.
Arsenal is searching for a new striker this summer to compete with Kai Havertz for a spot in Mikel Arteta’s team.
Kai Havertz, who joined Arsenal from Chelsea in a big-money move last June, has now embraced his role as a No.9 for both club and country. Initially, Mikel Arteta played Havertz in midfield, but a shift to the forward position in the latter part of the season showcased his potential, as he scored nine goals in the final four months. This performance was crucial as Arsenal challenged Manchester City for the Premier League title.
Despite Havertz’s success, Arsenal aims to further strengthen their attacking options. They are linked with Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko. Arsenal is particularly keen on Sesko and hopes to negotiate his reported £45 million release clause.
In a recent interview with Welt am Sonntag, Havertz expressed his preference for playing as a modern No.9, stating, “I clearly see myself as a No.9 in the national team – and that’s what I am now at Arsenal. But I don’t mean the classic nine. Where else are they available? Even Erling Haaland or Harry Kane, who you immediately think of, don’t just stand in the box and wait for the finish. The players who are waiting there no longer exist in modern football.”
Havertz acknowledged the challenges he faced during his time at Chelsea and the early stages at Arsenal but revealed that he has learned to handle criticism and strives to live a normal life. He added, “Sometimes I think to myself that I would rather be a student who lives in a cool city and lives his life. But that usually goes away pretty quickly because I love playing football. The hustle and bustle around it is part of it. That’s fun too; of course, more when things are going well. And if that’s not the case, things go extremely wrong. Then you are devastated and exhausted because there is ridicule and criticism. But I can now deal with it very well and try to live my life as normally as possible.”