Graeme Souness Criticizes Arsenal’s Signing of Kai Havertz Over Emile Smith Rowe

Former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness has criticized Arsenal for spending money on Kai Havertz when they already had a player of Emile Smith Rowe’s caliber in their squad.

The Gunners invested over £200 million in new signings last summer, aiming to strengthen their squad after their Premier League title challenge faded in the previous season. Among the signings were Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice, and Havertz, whose arrival from Chelsea raised eyebrows among some Arsenal fans due to the club’s apparent depth in attacking midfield.

Despite Smith Rowe’s persistent fitness issues, he was considered the future of the club alongside fellow academy graduate Bukayo Saka. However, Smith Rowe has only started one Premier League match this season. On the other hand, Havertz has shown glimpses of brilliance but has yet to consistently perform for Arsenal, scoring five goals in all competitions at the halfway point of his debut season.

Souness expressed his confusion about Arsenal’s transfer decisions on talkSPORT, questioning why they spent £60 million on Havertz when they appeared to be in greater need of a genuine center-forward. He suggested that the funds could have been better directed towards signing a striker, such as Gabriel Jesus.

Arsenal is reportedly in the market for a striker in the January transfer window, with Brentford’s Ivan Toney heavily linked as a potential signing. Souness believes Toney would be an excellent addition to the team, citing his proven goal-scoring ability in the Premier League.

Souness emphasized the importance of addressing the team’s weaknesses when making signings and highlighted the potential challenges foreign players may face in adapting to a new culture and language. He suggested that Arsenal should consider these factors when evaluating potential signings.

Overall, Souness’s criticism of Arsenal’s transfer decisions reflects his belief that the club should have prioritized strengthening their striker position instead of spending a significant amount on Havertz. Only time will tell if Arsenal will address this issue in the upcoming transfer window.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.