Since taking the job at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has generally gotten it right when it comes to the transfer market.
For example, while he's overseen the arrival of his fair share of duds like Willian, Raheem Sterling and Nuno Tavares, he's also helped sign some special talents like Declan Rice, Gabriel Magahele, David Raya and Jurrien Timber.
However, there is one player who divides opinion perhaps more than any other: Kai Havertz.
Arsenal's Kai Havertz reacts
To some, the German is an underrated lynchpin without which the attack falters, while others view him as an overpriced makeshift forward who can't be trusted to finish his chances in the moments that matter.
Yet, it might not matter which side of the aisle you find yourself on next season, as recent reports have heavily linked the club with someone who'd likely be a massive upgrade.
Arsenal's striker search
Given Arsenal's lacklustre form in front of goal this season, it's hardly been a surprise to see the club linked with a host of talented strikers in recent weeks, from the well-known Benjamin Sesko to the more under-the-radar Nick Woltemade.
The former has been heavily linked with a £67m move to the Emirates for some time now, and while that is a hefty outlay, there is a lot to like about the 6 foot 5 speedster, like his tally of 27 goal involvements in 45 games this season.
Woltemade, on the other hand, would only cost the club £42m this summer, and while he produced just 20 goal involvements this year, he did so in just 33 games across all competitions.
Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade
Yet, while both players would likely help the Gunners' frontline next season, they both feel like players for the coming years, not someone who'd be an instant and sizable upgrade like Viktor Gyokeres.
Yes, according to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are still very much in the race for the Sporting CP star.
Bailey revealed that not only are the Gunners still interested in the Swedish international, but they also held direct talks with his camp on Wednesday.
A price is not mentioned in the story, but other reports from this week have claimed that the former Coventry City striker could be available for around £67m.
Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres kisses the trophy as he celebrate after winning the Taca de Portugal
While that is undoubtedly a lot of money, this is a deal Arsenal should be going all out to complete, as Gyokeres would be a monumental upgrade on Havertz.
How Gyokeres compares to Havertz
So, if Arsenal are able to get Gyokeres this summer and, in turn, spend the sort of money it reportedly cost to do so, then it seems incredibly unlikely that he'd be coming in to sit on the bench.
gyokeres-sporting
Therefore, the Sporting star would be in competition with Havertz for a starting berth in the team, and based on how they stack up against one another, we think it's a competition he'd win with ease.
For example, in 52 appearances this season, totalling 4248 minutes, the Stockholm-born "monster," as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored a simply sensational 54 goals and provided 13 assists, which works out to an average of 1.28 goal involvements every game, or every 63.40 minutes.
In contrast, the Gunners' number 29 scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 36 appearances, totalling 2809 minutes, which comes out to a decent but far less impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.8 games, or every 140.45 minutes.
Unfortunately for the former Chelsea ace, the comparison is just as one-sided when we take a look under the hood at their respective underlying numbers.
Gyokeres vs Havertz
Statistics per 90
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
Non-Penalty Goals + Assists
Progressive Passes
Progressive Passes Received
Progressive Carries
Shots
Shot on Target
Key Passes
Passes into the Penalty Area
Shot-Creating Actions
Goal-Creating Actions
Successful Take-Ons
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 Season
For example, the 27-year-old comes out way ahead in the vast majority of relevant metrics, including but not limited to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, key passes and passes into the penalty area, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, Havertz is a great player and someone who'll be an incredibly useful asset to the squad next season, but from every angle, it's clear that Gyokeres is the vastly superior goalscoring number nine.
Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring their third goal to complete his hat-trick
Therefore, Arsenal should do all they can to sign him this summer.
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