Kai Havertz, who is still Arsenal’s leading Premier League goalscorer with nine, wants to face Newcastle on Sunday and is also steeling himself for a fight as they look to sign a new striker this summer
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Sport
22:30, 16 May 2025
Kai Havertz (left) has returned from injury
Kai Havertz (left) has returned from injury
Kai Havertz is ready to return after bulking up to become Arsenal’s new heavyweight striker. Gunners striker Havertz has hit the gym and broken training records during his three-month lay-off with a hamstring injury.
Havertz, who is still Arsenal’s leading Premier League goalscorer with nine, wants to face Newcastle on Sunday and is also steeling himself for a fight as they look to sign a new striker this summer.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Havertz and his attitude to come back to fitness as he made it clear that he has a big future at the club.
Arteta said: “He looks in great shape. There’s been a transformation in his body. The last three years in his career have been so condensed that he hasn’t had time to do that and this has been a window and he really wanted to use it.
“To be fair, the staff and how they have explained the opportunity that is within with his physique to go to a different level and the things that he can improve and it can even help him mentally as well as being more effective as a player.
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“He got on board with that, he worked hard, you can see his presence and I think he destroyed all the metrics that we had in the gym for the last 10 years.”
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Arteta has always been Havertz’s No1 fan, pushed to sign him as an attacking midfielder but then used him as a centre forward and the Gunners boss says that versatility is hugely important.
Arteta said: “One of the biggest qualities with Kai is his versatility and his goal threat whenever he plays and he’s so intelligent. He will play as a No9, he will play as an attacking midfielder and he will be super important for us as a team.”
Arteta is in the market for a new No9 as a priority in this summer’s window and have drawn up a shortlist which includes Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko while Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is probably the dream but unattainable.
Arsenal’s new sporting director Andrea Berta has been charged with landing the striker and Arteta insists they are perfectly aligned to get the right man.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, reacts as he gives the team instructions during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on May 11, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta will hope to end the season strong(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arteta, who explained who has a say on which aspect of a transfer, added: “It's always a ‘we’. I think it's always a decision that all of us have to come together.
“Then obviously in certain aspects, the club, the financial aspects, whether it's the strategy or this or that, they have a bigger say than me because I don't want to have an opinion on that.
“When it’s more technical or tactical aspects of how I think that player is going to emerge and be cohesive with the group of players.”
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