Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta must ditch £65m project as Chelsea transfer opportunity arises

Mikel Arteta has several big decisions to make this summer, and one of which will be what to do with Kai Havertz. Arsenal are reportedly keen to bring in a new No. 9 to bolster their frontline, and that leaves their manager with a tough call: insist on developing Havertz or swallow his pride and drop him back into midfield.

Havertz joined the Gunners from 2023 in a deal worth £65milliion from Chelsea, and he has largely been tasked with leading the line at the Emirates Stadium since, rather than playing in midfield where he has previously looked comfortable.

The 26-year-old scored 15 goals in all competitions last season, beating his 2023/24 tally by a solitary goal in 15 less appearances. However, questions remain as to whether Havertz is truly a striker and what more he has to give in the role.

The German international has shown he is capable of holding the ball up, making runs in behind and scoring goals. But Havertz has always felt more makeshift than natural up top and Arteta may now have to abandon his striker project.

With Arsenal now looking ready to challenge for titles in every other department, the time may now have arrived for Havertz to be dropped into midfield to pave the way for a world-class striker to join the club, whoever that may be.

Sporting star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko have both been linked with moves to north London as a result, as well as Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins - who was pursued in the January transfer window.

According to transfer expert Duncan Castles, Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson is also under consideration at Arsenal. The Senegal international has shown plenty of potential since joining the Blues, but he remains an incredibly raw player and has let his side down on several occasions of recent with moments of madness - including a red card towards the end of last season for a late elbow.

If Jackson is pursued, Arteta may simply be restarting his striker project with an even more unreliable option. However, the 24-year-old certainly has the capabilities of a quality second-choice option behind a marquee striker, which would only further consolidate that Havertz's future lies in a deeper role rather than the final third.