Arsenal could sign a Havertz upgrade who’s “in the same bracket as Mbappe”

As Arsenal beat Manchester City in the season’s curtain raiser, the Community Shield, they remarkably did so without a whole host of first-team regulars.

Neither Declan Rice or Bukayo Saka started in Cardiff. William Saliba and Jurrien Timber were sidelined through injury while the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri missed out on the squad entirely.

Mikel Arteta’s squad is beefy. Their depth is incredible. It’s one of the reasons they won the Premier League and reached the Champions League final last season.

This term, however, they have designs on going even better than last term. A first major European trophy is in their sights but they will need their attack to fire, as it did against City, to realise that ambition.

Martin Odegaard and Christos Tzolis were in form form at the Millenium Stadium but it was Kai Havertz, back to full fitness, who will arguably have pleased Arteta the most.

Why Kai Havertz is so important to Arteta

The Gunners did not face huge problems up top last term. After all, only City with 77 goals scored more than Arsenal’s haul of 71.

Yet, there was a sense, still is a sense, that they lack an elite centre-forward and an elite winger. It’s why they tried to sign Vinicius Junior. It’s why they have explored the terms of a move for Julian Alvarez.

You would be forgiven for thinking Viktor Gyokeres had a poor first season at the Emirates Stadium but he did still end the term as their top scorer with 21 goals in all competitions.

Havertz endured another injury riddled year but was still trusted in the big moments by Arteta. He started away at the Etihad as well as the Champions League final in Budapest.

The manager then sent a message to the German on Sunday that he is still their leading marksman, starting him in the Community Shield.

After starting all of Germany’s games at the World Cup, Havertz is now injury free. That’s vital for Arsenal who rely on him in matches where they need to make the ball stick. He did that and then some on Sunday. His performance was nothing spectacular but it was pleasing to see the former Chelsea man find his groove quickly.

He scored a header from Christos Tzolis’ assist in the first half, as well as knitting things together by completing 92% of his passes. He was also fouled twice by the City defence.

The fact is that Havertz soaks up pressure far better than Gyokeres. He’s more involved in the build-up and he’s more secure in possession of the ball.

REUTERS/Chris Radburn

The Swede’s failings in that area were his undoing last term and it explains why Arteta has looked at adding another striker to his ranks this summer.

How Arsenal could replace Gyokeres and Havertz

Sourcing an upgrade on both Gyokeres and Havertz is not a necessity but if there is a deal to be done, Andrea Berta needs to sort it.

Alvarez has been described as the ‘dream target’ this summer but it is becoming increasingly unlikely that he leaves Atleti for any side other than Barcelona.

As a consequence, Arsenal have looked at alternatives. One of the most exciting is Galatasaray superstar Victor Osimhen. During negotiations with the Turkish side regarding Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Martinelli, the striker’s future has also been dicussed.

Reports suggest the Nigerian is open to a move and if they could get it done, it would be a huge statement of intent.

REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya

Osimhen may not quite be Vinicius Junior but as another Nigerian hero in the form of Jay-Jay Okocha previously noted, “Osimhen is in the same bracket as Mbappe, Haaland and Kane”. That’s quite the statement but it is hard to disagree with it.

After all, the 27-year-old is one of the most prolific players around. While he might be at the bottom end of what we would describe as an elite centre-forward, someone who will score 30-40 goals a year, he still keeps some fine company.

Gyokeres may well have scored more than him in recent times but you have to factor in that a portion of those goals came in the second tier of English football with Coventry City.

Compared to Havertz, he totally wipes the floor with him when it comes to goalscoring. For so long Arteta has been craving a player capable of scoring 20-30 goals a year and in Osimhen, he could find just that.

Sure, his German lieutenant is one of the most trustworthy players in the squad but if they are to ever reach the next level, the arrival of “one of the best players in the world” in the words of former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo, would help no end. There’s more to this than just goals, however.

Analysing the numbers from Osimhen’s final campaign at Napoli vs Havertz in 2025/26 and it’s clear the size of the upgrade Arsenal could attain here when it comes to penalty box poaching.

Compared to Havertz, the Gala striker is more likely to stretch the play, he’s more likely to bulldoze his way past defenders with his immense physicality and he’s more likely to find the net.

Reportedly valued at just £60m, this would be a no-brainer if Berta can wrap up a deal before September’s deadline.