Look, Kai Havertz saying he hasn't heard the Arsenal exit rumors isn't exactly a shocker. What's he supposed to say? "Yeah, my agent's been chatting with Bayern"? Of course he's going to tow the company line, especially after a season where he finally started to show why Mikel Arteta shelled out £65 million for him last summer. The German international finished the Premier League campaign with 13 goals and 7 assists in 37 appearances, a significant improvement from his Chelsea days, where he never topped 8 league goals in a single season.
Thing is, those whispers don't just materialize out of thin air. Someone, somewhere, is floating them. Maybe it's a frustrated agent, maybe it's a club testing the waters, or maybe it's just the natural churn of the transfer window. Havertz joined Arsenal from Chelsea on June 28, 2023, and endured a rough start, going scoreless in his first eight Premier League matches. It wasn't until October 28 against Bournemouth that he netted his first league goal for the Gunners, a penalty in a 4-0 rout. For a while there, it looked like another big-money bust.
The turning point for Havertz seemed to be that shift into a more advanced, false nine role. Arteta’s tactical tweak in the second half of the season unlocked something. From March 9 to April 28, Havertz scored 6 goals and assisted 4 in just 8 Premier League games, including a crucial brace against his old club Chelsea in a 5-0 demolition at the Emirates on April 23. That run of form was a huge reason Arsenal pushed Manchester City to the final day of the title race, ultimately finishing second with 89 points. He looked comfortable, confident, and, most importantly, productive.
But here’s the hot take: while Havertz found his rhythm, Arsenal still needs a more traditional, clinical striker if they truly want to win the Premier League or make a deep Champions League run. Havertz is a fantastic versatile option, a luxury player even, but he's not an out-and-out number nine who consistently bags 20+ league goals. Gabriel Jesus, for all his effort, only managed 4 league goals in 27 appearances this season. Eddie Nketiah? Five goals in 27 games. The Gunners’ top scorer in the league was Bukayo Saka with 16 goals, followed by Havertz at 13. That's good, but not great for a title winner.
So, when Havertz says he's happy and focused on the Euros, that's fine. He *should* be. He earned his spot as a key player for Germany, who are hosting the tournament. He scored in Germany's 2-1 friendly win over Greece on June 7, a good sign heading into the tournament opener against Scotland. But Arsenal's transfer strategy will be fascinating. They spent big on Declan Rice (£105 million) and Jurrien Timber (£38 million) alongside Havertz last summer. This year, they need to be just as decisive.
If a truly elite striker becomes available – someone like Victor Osimhen or even a younger, high-upside option – Arsenal has to consider it. And if they do, suddenly Havertz's role, and his future, becomes a talking point again, no matter how much he dismisses the rumors. Because while he had a strong finish, the memory of his struggles still lingers, and Arsenal can't afford passengers if they want to get over the hump.
Bold prediction: Arsenal will sign a new starting striker this summer, pushing Havertz back into a more rotational, creative midfield role or out wide.