January 16th 2024.
Last summer, there was a lot of buzz in the football world as Kai Havertz completed his highly anticipated move from Chelsea to Arsenal for a whopping £65 million. However, not everyone was on board with this decision. Former Liverpool captain, Graeme Souness, took the opportunity to criticize Arsenal for splashing the cash on Havertz when they already had a homegrown talent in Emile Smith Rowe who was just as good, if not better.
It was no secret that Arsenal was determined to strengthen their squad after their Premier League title charge faded towards the end of the 2022/23 season. With their sights set on the top spot, the Gunners spent over £200 million on new recruits. Along with Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice, Havertz was one of the major signings. However, his arrival from rival club Chelsea raised eyebrows among some Arsenal fans. After all, they already had a solid attacking midfield with Smith Rowe, despite his persistent fitness issues, and fellow academy graduate Bukayo Saka.
Despite being hailed as the future of the club, Smith Rowe has only made one start in the Premier League this season. In contrast, Havertz has shown moments of brilliance, although he has yet to perform consistently for Arsenal. With just five goals in all competitions at the halfway point of his debut season, some questioned the hefty price tag that came with the German midfielder.
During a discussion on talkSPORT, Souness expressed his confusion over Arsenal's transfer dealings. He pointed out that instead of spending £60 million on Havertz, perhaps they should have directed those funds towards a genuine centre-forward, which seemed to be the weakest part of their team. He praised Smith Rowe for his goal threat and playmaking abilities, and suggested that the money could have been better utilized to bring in a different type of striker to complement Gabriel Jesus.
As the January transfer window approached, Arsenal were rumored to be in the market for a striker. Brentford's Ivan Toney, who was serving a ban for gambling offenses, was heavily linked to the Gunners. Souness believed Toney would be an excellent addition to the squad, especially since he had already proven himself as a goalscorer in the Premier League.
However, as with any transfer, there are always factors to consider, such as adapting to a new culture and language. Souness pointed out that when buying a player, clubs try to eliminate as many potential problems as possible. In Toney's case, his nationality and familiarity with the English game would not be a concern, making him a desirable target for Arsenal.
As the football world eagerly awaited the resumption of the Premier League, it was reported that Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko would miss their upcoming match against Crystal Palace due to injury. Meanwhile, in another transfer rumor, Lille's Victor Osimhen spoke out about the speculation surrounding a potential transfer to either Arsenal or Chelsea. It was yet to be seen how these developments would impact Arsenal's plans for the rest of the season.
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