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An elite version of Havertz could sign for Arsenal in the next 24 hours

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Published Aug 31, 2026, 5:10 PM GMT+1

Matt specialises in football analysis, transfer insight and original feature writing across the Premier League, EFL and Scottish football.

A sports writer for 15 years, Matt graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in 2018 and has developed particular expertise in Arsenal and the wider Premier League while also reporting on clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United, Celtic, Rangers and teams across the EFL. He joined Football FanCast as part of its writing team in 2019 before progressing to Assistant Editor and then becoming a Senior Editor in 2021.

His work combines authoritative reporting with data-led analysis, tactical insight and informed transfer assessment. Matt regularly examines how players fit into different systems, what their underlying numbers reveal about their performances and whether transfer targets represent realistic solutions for clubs. His analysis aims to go beyond the headline, explaining not just what has happened but what it means for a team, manager or player.

Matt's journalism has also appeared through the Press Association, with his work featured by Sky Sports and the Daily Mail. He previously served as Arsenal and Premier League Editor at VAVEL and gained first-hand club-media experience with Chesterfield FC. Over his career, he has interviewed figures including Arsène Wenger, Ray Parlour, Alan Smith, Lucy Bronze and Steph Houghton. Matt's voice has been heard across Arsenal Fan TV and Love Sport Radio.

Through his reporting, analysis and features, Matt brings readers credible football insight grounded in research, statistics, tactical understanding and years of experience covering the professional game.

Today, Matt leads Football FanCast's features team as Senior Editor, overseeing the publication's opinion coverage while helping shape its overall editorial standards and content strategy.

Arsenal may well be busy preparing for their second Premier League match of the season on Monday evening but behind the scenes, Andrea Berta will be hard at work trying to seal one last signing for the Gunners.

It's been a strange summer for the Londoners, who after winning their first league crown in over two decades, have struggled to land their key targets.

Morgan Rogers headed to Chelsea and Vinicius Junior ended his contract dispute with Real Madrid to remain in the Spanish capital. Still, they did sign Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes and Aston Villa's vice captain, Ezri Konsa.

New signing Arsenal's Ezri Konsa is presented to the crowd inside the stadium before the match

Christos Tzolis has also improved Mikel Arteta's frontline significantly. His understanding with Kai Havertz and the rest of the attack already looks first-class.

How Havertz has surpassed Gyokers as Arsenal's main man

A year ago, it looked as though Havertz's race as a centre-forward was run.

Arsenal needed a striker, an elite one at that, and it was Viktor Gyokeres who arrived. He netted 54 goals in 52 games during his final campaign at Sporting but did not come close to replicating that throughout his first season at the Emirates.

In all honesty, he was not expected to given the step up in quality. The big Swede still ended the term as the club's top scorer, finding the net on 21 occasions.

Yet, it was a damning indictment on Gyokeres' overall qualities that in the big moments, Havertz was trusted to start instead.

The German was selected from the off against Manchester City in the league, against City in the League Cup final and then again in the Champions League final in Budapest.

Havertz simply delivers when it matters. He links the play more efficiently than Gyokeres. His first touch is more graceful and he'll hold onto the ball more effectively.

For the way Arsenal play, this is vital. It makes such a huge difference when the likes of Tzolis and Bukayo Saka can play into someone capable of holding onto the ball.

That said, could the Gunners be about to look at replacing the former Chelsea man for a second time?

How Arsenal could replace Havertz in the final stage of the transfer window

A year on from replacing Havertz unsuccessfully, the Gunners are looking to do it again.

The trouble is, that like most of their targets, Berta and Arteta have struggled in this regard. Arsenal really like Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi but after he sustained a foot injury, the Frenchman was ruled out for a number of months.

All of the Premier League's top clubs were after him but he is now unattainable until January at the earliest.

Alternatives have been looked at, chiefly a certain Julian Alvarez. We all know the saga by now. Arsenal want him. Barcelona want him. However, the player wants Barca. He's avoided training and been booed by his own fans as the Argentine tries to force a move out.

Yet, Atletico Madrid will not sell him to the Camp Nou. His only exit route right now is the Emirates Stadium. The latest on that move as we approach deadline day comes from journalist Gianluigi Longari who reports that on Monday, there will be fresh talks between between Arsenal and the player's entourage as they make one last bid to convince him to join.

Alvarez is a household name now, he's "one of the best players in the world" in the words of his international colleague Franco Mastantuono. He would be a sensational pick-up, but how exactly does he compare to Havertz, one of Arteta's most-trusted lieutenants?

Well, he's something of an elite version of the German. He's a more ruthless goalscorer, bagging 29 times in 2024/25 and another 20 times in 2025/26. The stats tell us everything we need to know.

Havertz vs Alvarez: 2025/26 league stats

Stats (per 90 mins)

Havertz

Alvarez

Non-penalty goals	0.31	0.28
Shots	2.78	2.56
Open play expected assists	0.10	0.16
Open play big chances created	0.31	0.43
Shot-ending carries	0.62	1.66
Successful dribbles	0.46	1.23
Progressive carries	1.08	1.99
Progressive passes	0.93	2.56

One of Havertz's best qualities is his ability to bring others into play, it is his ability to create for others. Well, in that regard, Alvarez wipes the floor with the German.

Indeed, compared to strikers in Europe's top five leagues, the former Manchester City man ranks among the finest 10% for expected assists from open play and among the best 6% for big chances created from open play.

Expected Assists (xA) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a pass becoming a goal assist.

This is a player who could combine Havertz's ability to link the attack with an ability to score regular goals. In the last two seasons, he has scored 27 more times than Arsenal's number 29.

As a result, if Artete's men are to reach the next level, a Champions League-winning level, Alvarez could be just the man.

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