Gary Neville proven right on Kai Havertz as Mikel Arteta hints at Arsenal striker solution

It was a night to forget for Arsenal. It was a night to forget for Kai Havertz.

The Gunners were dumped out of the Carabao Cup after being comfortably beaten 2-0 at St. James’ Park on Wednesday night. Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon ensured Eddie Howe’s men progressed to Wembley as Alexander Isak terrorised William Saliba and Gabriel all evening.

As Gary Neville mentioned in his in-game commentary, Arsenal looked “toothless”. They struggled to create many clear-cut chances, although skipper Martin Odegaard did hit the post early on. Havertz, in particular, looked devoid of confidence, despite scoring in the weekend’s 5-1 win against Manchester City.

football.london’s Arsenal writer, Tom Canton, was honest in his review of the German’s performance. Writing in his player ratings, Canton said: “What can you say? Sadly another performance that will have very little change on the forward’s standing while at the other end the dream option for Mikel Arteta scores again. 4.”

With Isak performing so well over the two legs, it makes Arsenal’s decision to not sign a striker in the January transfer window that little more baffling. Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, Ollie Watkins and Isak himself were linked with a move to Emirates Stadium but no striker was brought in during the winter window.

“We had a clear intention which is always there is a window open to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it,” Arteta said before the clash at Newcastle. “We haven’t achieved it so we are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring ­certain kinds of players and we have to be very disciplined with that and I think we will.”

With Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka out injured, the burden to score goals is falling heavily on Havertz. Although he did score against Man City on Sunday, the former Chelsea man did miss a glaring chance in the first half with the contest at 1-0 after being slipped through following a Manchester City mistake. But the 25-year-old could only blast wide from just inside the box with just Stefan Ortega and a City defender to beat.

That prompted Neville to make a damning four-word critique on Sky Sports. He said: “He didn’t want it.” Before adding: “He didn’t want it first time around (for Odegaard’s goal) and didn’t want it there either. Havertz is having a confidence crisis.”

Havertz does indeed look like he is suffering somewhat of a confidence crisis and Neville may be right. With Arsenal now embarking on a warm weather training camp in Dubai, it may be the perfect time for Arteta to have a think about his other options.

Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Martinelli are all potential candidates for the No.9 role, although the latter came off injured against Newcastle with a suspected hamstring problem. Another solution could be Ethan Nwaneri.

The Hale Ender has demonstrated his brilliance on a number of occasions already this season, with the 17-year-old scoring seven goals in 22 appearances. Most of those have been from the right wing, however, with a handful of others coming from midfield.

Arteta himself has hinted Nwaneri could play the striker role, too. “We’re going to have to be very flexible in the front line and now the ones that we have and are fit, make sure that they stay fit and they keep contributing,” Arteta said this week.

“Leo can play in that position. Raheem has played in that position. Ethan, I think, can play in that position. Martinelli can play there. Let’s see in relation to how everybody is, moment, opponent, but at some point, I think we’re going to have to try something different.”

Arteta also mentioned Nwaneri developing into a No.9 in December. “Ethan can play as a right attacking midfielder, a left attacking midfielder,” said Arteta. “He can play as a right winger and there is another position I think he can develop into – No.9.

“He has got the goal in front of him and he looks at the goal and he has a tremendous ability to put the ball in the back of the net.”

With a decent chunk of time to recharge and also work on the training pitch, it may well be that Nwaneri is deployed as a striker at some point between now and the end of the season. You never know, we may well see it as early as February 15 when Arsenal travel to Leicester.