The Arsenal squad have split up for the November international break, with a lot for Mikel Arteta to solve before action returns.
Heading into the final break of the year on a streak of four Premier League games without a win is not what the manager would’ve wanted.
Arsenal are in a dreary patch of form, collecting just two points from a possible 12 in the league to drop nine points behind the league leaders.
It’s back to the drawing board for Arteta to ensure that such form does not continue after the break in play, with some significant tests coming up.
Kai Havertz of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on November 10, 2024 in London, England.
Michael Bridges slams Arsenal striker Kai Havertz
One thing that the manager must solve is what his best XI looks like at this moment in time.
Over the past few weeks, the Gunners have been without some key players, which has only highlighted the lack of depth in the squad.
This comes particularly in attack as the gap between Arteta’s first and second choice players is impossible to ignore.
That being said, there’s believe that some of the Spaniards favoured stars aren’t quite up to scratch, as former Premier League striker Michael Bridges shared his opinion on Kai Havertz.
“I think Arsenal are missing a number nine, I’m not happy with Kai Havertz. Honestly I can’t take him, he frustrates the hell out of me, he’s not a striker,” Bridges admitted on The Optus Sport Football Podcast.
The former Leeds United forward’s rant continued as he analysed Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, accusing Havertz of not having ‘a clue’ on how to play the number nine role.
“He’s tried his best, he’s tried to adapt into that position and he’s done very well but there’s moments that I look at him and think, you haven’t got a clue what you’re meant to do in that moment in time.
“He’s weak, he can’t play with his back to goal. It’s a big fundamental error where Arteta missed out massively in the summer.”
It was a brutally honest assessment of the 2023 arrival, who found the net against the Blues before his goal was chalked off by VAR.
Criticism of Havertz is harsh
Bridges didn’t like what he saw from Havertz as he questioned Arteta’s actions in the transfer market ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
The manager and former sporting director Edu Gaspar were criticised heavily when the German first arrived at the Emirates, paying £65m for a player who hadn’t exactly wowed at Chelsea.
That being said, Arsenal have squeezed the best out of the 25-year-old, who has scored 21 times for the club since finding his feet following a trialling start to life in North London.
No, the Germany international may not be the finished article in the number nine role but, Bridges’ criticism was incredibly harsh considering what Havertz offers as a player in Arteta’s system.
That also doesn’t mean to say that the former Leeds striker’s opinion was wrong, as the fact remains that Havertz is not a number nine and Arsenal are lacking in that department.
It remains to be seen if Arsenal can win the league without a primary source of goals however, history will tell you that such is unlikely, with the club’s next move in the transfer market potentially decisive.
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