October 17th 2024.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been receiving a lot of praise lately for his team's performance on the field. However, some people are suggesting that he should consider bringing in a new player to replace Kai Havertz, despite the latter's impressive form for the Gunners. This suggestion has sparked a debate among football fans, with many believing that Arsenal should look into signing Premier League forward Alexander Isak.
Havertz has definitely come a long way since his slow start with Arsenal. In his 61 appearances for the team, he has scored an impressive 20 goals and has become a key member of Arteta's squad. This season, he has been playing as a false number nine and has already scored four goals in seven league games, which has contributed to Arsenal's strong start in the 2024-25 campaign. It's worth noting that this is Havertz's fifth season in the Premier League, having previously played for London rivals Chelsea.
Despite his success with Chelsea, where he even scored the winning goal in the Champions League final against Manchester City, Havertz's performance for the team was not consistent. However, since joining Arsenal, he has taken his game to another level and has impressed many, including former Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant. Pennant admits that he was surprised by Havertz's form for the Gunners, but he still has doubts about whether the German can be a long-term solution for a team with lofty goals of winning both the Premier League and the Champions League.
This is where Pennant believes that Alexander Isak would be a perfect fit for Arsenal. The 25-year-old striker has been in great form since joining Newcastle United in 2022, scoring 36 goals in 73 appearances, with 21 of those coming in the Premier League last season. Arsenal have been linked with a move for Isak for the past 18 months, and with talks over a new contract at Newcastle stalling, it's possible that he could be on his way to the Gunners soon.
"It's an interesting debate," Pennant says when asked about Havertz's potential to lead the line for Arsenal for years to come. "I was one of the people who didn't think Havertz was up to the task when he first signed, but he's found a new position and style of play under Mikel Arteta and has become a vital focal point up front for Arsenal this season."
However, Pennant believes that Isak is the long-term solution for Arsenal's striker problems. "If the club want a long-term project and vision, he'd be an absolutely blinding fit," he says. "Signing Isak as their number nine would be perfect for all parties, even more so than Havertz."
Another player who has impressed for Arsenal this season is summer signing Riccardo Calafiori. The 22-year-old Italian defender has featured in five of Arsenal's seven games, helping the team boast the joint-second best defensive record in the Premier League. Pennant has been particularly impressed by Calafiori's performance, even comparing him to legendary AC Milan and Italy defender Paolo Maldini.
"I can definitely see the similarities between Riccardo Calafiori and Paolo Maldini," Pennant says. "They're both aggressive, enforcing defenders, and both have the long locks too! At the same time, both of them love getting forward and are good on the ball, so you can see the similarities between the pair and understand why people are reminded of him."
He adds, "When you watch Calafiori play, he's so difficult to get past – he's a very good defender and has been really impressive since joining the club. That goal against Manchester City at the Etihad was simply special too. If I'm looking at the current crop of Italian players, I'd probably say Calafiori stands out as the 'new Maldini!'"
Arsenal, currently third in the Premier League, will face Bournemouth next on Saturday. The Cherries have had a decent start to the season, with eight points from their first seven games. So it will be an interesting match to see how Arsenal performs against them. Stay tuned for more Arsenal news, exclusive content, and analysis by signing up for our newsletter. Your privacy is important to us, and this site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
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