Mikel Arteta continues to chop and change his number nine with Gabriel Jesus out injured for Arsenal.
It has become a common theme since the former Manchester City star joined the club, but it has also opened the door for others to take that opportunity in the starting XI.
Kai Havertz, who has come under fire since his big-money move from Chelsea to Arsenal in the summer, has also been deployed in that much-talked-about number nine role.
But Tim Sherwood thinks the 24-year-old simply shouldn’t be starting in that position because ‘he hasn’t done it’ when handed the chances, as he told Premier League Productions (12/02/24 at 5:10 pm).
The German played centrally during Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Liverpool in the Premier League. It was his one-v-one chance, which was saved by Alisson Becker, that helped open the scoring because Bukayo Saka netted from the rebound.
Since then, the versatile attacker has kept his place in the XI, but on Sunday, it was Leandro Trossard’s turn to play that role.
And as every Arsenal fan saw with the biggest of smile on their faces, they smashed West Ham United 6-0, with Leandro Trossard getting on the scoresheet.
When it comes to Kai Havertz playing up front, Tim Sherwood thinks he simply isn’t the answer because he ‘drifts through games’.
Kai Havertz as a number 9
“Havertz, for me, hasn’t done it when he has played there,” said Sherwood about Havertz as a number nine. “I think he has got ability. He drifts through games.”
Kai Havertz winning the Premier League title
Even before Havertz could step foot into the Emirates, there was a lot of noise around his transfer, with many questioning why he was signed.
At the end of the day, you can only find the true answer to it all when the final ball is kicked at the end of the season.
If Arsenal, along with Havertz, are lifting the Premier League title aloft, then that will be enough to shut up his critics once and for all.
But if the Gunners fall short again, then just like with Arteta’s call on David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale, he will come under fire for some of his transfer decisions.