Arteta has been handed a boostplaceholder image
Arteta has been handed a boost | Getty Images
Arsenal are looking to strengthen even further over the next two transfer windows but there is another priority behind the scenes.
Arsenal have recruited as well as any team in Europe in recent windows with the results on the pitch proving that money has been well spent.
Mikel Arteta has guided his team into a six-point gap at the top of the Premier League table despite not being able to call on either Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz until recently. The Gunners have been linked with new players already including reports that a £52m bid for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has been made.
Arsenal offer Kai Havertz a new contract
Arteta has a settled squad now with Football Transfers claiming that Arsenal have a clear plan for improving it. One move is to persuade Havertz to extend his stay at The Emirates: “We hear that so far during the discussions over this extension, a pay increase has not been mentioned. Instead, Arsenal simply want to attach an additional year to Havertz's deal, thus tying him to the club until 2029.”
The report also claims that sporting director Andrea Berta’s priority is to tie down Arsenal’s key players to long-term deals to provide stability and the foundation for a sustained period of success. The hard work has been done. The spine of the team has David Raya, Gabriel, William Saliba, Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard with strength in depth on the flanks too.
There is no such thing as a sure thing or no-risk signing, and Arsenal are in the envious position where all they need to do is refresh every now and again as well as look at developing talent that has come through their own ranks and from other sources.
In Havertz though, Arteta clearly has a player that he can trust and it would t be a surprise to see him displace Viktor Gyokeres in the team. At least Arteta has the option of rotating now, which should get the best out of the two contrasting forwards.
Why Havertz is getting offered a new deal
https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/\_/id/45177127/arsenal-vs-newcastle-kai-havertz-return-says-mikel-arteta
Last season Arteta was impressed with how Havertz used a long lay-off to get himself better equipped for his new position and the Premier League, via ESPN.
"There's been a transformation in his body," said Arteta. "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.
"He got on board with that, he worked hard, got on board with that, you can see his presence and I think he destroyed all the metrics that we had in the gym for the last 10 years. Power, acceleration, muscle mass, the way that he has increased certain capacities in his body, his agility, he's been incredible. I was talking to the medical staff the other day and they were talking about that. It's been a phenomenal effort from all of them under the circumstances. Last home game is always a special occasion and it is our chance to wrap up Champions League qualification.
"For someone that is not in the team to have that mindset, the only thing he has done is raise the standards in the building because the other ones in the building who are injured were looking at him, 'I'm going to look bad if I don't do the same' so that's part of the culture. And very grateful because when the players that are not playing are doing that, it's just raising the bar for the next one to come. If he is not at that level he is going to get exposed so that will make us better."
Havertz will be like the proverbial new signing once he is up to speed and a new co Tracy could see him reach his peak at The Emirates. With a stronger team behind him now, Arteta has every right to be excited about the Germany international getting up to speed.
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