Arsenal must upgrade striker options as Havertz struggles in decisive moments

Arsenal face a critical decision over their attacking setup this summer, with growing calls for the club to pursue a new striker even after last year's £65m acquisition of Kai Havertz from Chelsea.

The 26-year-old has largely impressed since joining the Gunners, yet a string of missed opportunities in high-stakes fixtures has raised questions about his reliability when the stakes are highest. Despite spending £250m on fresh faces ahead of this campaign, Mikel Arteta's side continue to labour in front of goal—a concern underscored by their recent 2-1 reversal to Manchester City.

Former Premier League chief scout Mick Brown has zeroed in on the problem, suggesting Havertz rather than summer signing Viktor Gyokeres bears the brunt of responsibility. "There have been concerns about Kai Havertz for a while," Brown explained. "You never get the feeling he's going to do it in big games. He might perform against lesser opposition, but when it comes to the big games, he has got to stand up."

The City defeat exemplified the issue. While Erling Haaland capitalised on his sole clear-cut chance, Havertz squandered two—one saved by Donnarumma and a late header that drifted wide. "For Arsenal, or any team looking to win trophies, you need players who you are confident will take their chances when they fall to them," Brown told Football Insider. "So from an Arsenal point of view, they will be looking in the transfer market for another striker or player to come and replace what they've got at the moment."

The gap between title contenders often comes down to clinical finishing in decisive moments, and Arsenal remain unconvinced Havertz possesses that ruthlessness. "In that type of game, one that could potentially win you the league title, he's not good enough," Brown added. "In the position they're in, you always have to keep improving the squad and looking to get better, that's how you bridge the gap between first and second."

Beyond the senior picture, two academy talents face an uncertain future at the Emirates. Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri have been advised to seek fresh challenges elsewhere, with former Arsenal forward Jeremie Aliadiere warning that prolonged absence from the pitch threatens their development.

"To be honest, I was in that situation myself, being a young player who didn't play as much as I would have liked," Aliadiere told AceOdds.com. "I loved the club, I wanted to stay at the club, but I had to think about what I should do, if I should stay or leave the club."

The former striker believes both youngsters must prioritise game time over loyalty. "The longer you wait, the less good opportunities will come your way, because the less people see you play, the less interest there will be in you," he explained. "From their point of view, I would say that both of them probably have to go to progress their careers. If you really want to progress and get into the England squad, then you will have to play some minutes. They have to play at a top level somewhere to show what they can do, so from their point of view, it could be this summer where they have to find a new club."