Graeme Souness Lambasts Mikel Arteta For Misusing ‘£60m’

By The Editor
on 16th January 2024

Graeme Souness feels Arteta has fumbled the bag…

Football pundit Graeme Souness has lambasted Mikel Arteta for wasting ‘£60million’ on Kai Havertz instead of strengthening in the forward position, especially when he already has playmakers in the squad, he told talkSPORT.

The signing of Havertz continues to create dialogue given his poor start to life at Arsenal, especially considering our form in the league as well as the stature of the player he replaced.

Granit Xhaka produced his best season at Arsenal last term, operating in a new position as Arteta pushed him further up the pitch. However, the Swiss captain maintained his ability to dictate possession.

Havertz has looked awkward in possession, often looking to release the ball as quickly as possible – usually to a player beside or behind him. He has conjured up the odd goal recently, but our overall game has suffered.

For Souness, Arteta’s decision to bring Havertz to the club baffles him further when he sees a player like Emile Smith Rowe already in the squad.

“Smith Rowe? I like him. As a midfield player running into the box, clever passes, everything seems to be done when he is sprinting which I like,” the former Liverpool boss said.

“Goal threat. Then you go spend £60million, Arteta. So the point I want to make is that £60m, I think is a fair criticism, you’ve spent…

“You know what I am on about, building a football team, you try to strengthen the weakest part of your team.

“I think for most people, Arsenal needed another striker with [Gabriel] Jesus.

“So you go and take Kai Havertz from Chelsea for big money when really you’ve got a homegrown player that is every bit as good as him.”

While Havertz has yet to convince, Arteta was in no position to hang his hat on Emile Smith Rowe this season with the 23-year-old yet to prove he can keep fit at the highest level.

Also, the ‘left-eight’ position requires significant defensive responsibility, ironically something Havertz has excelled at.

As the weeks go on, it does seem that our campaign will be defined by the aforementioned German’s signing.