“Everyone is blaming Havertz because of his huge price tag and that’s unfair, he wasn’t the worst player in the pitch last night”- Manchester United Legend Patrick Evra says £195k-p/w Arsenal star who lost the ball 20 times against Liverpool was the one who let Mikel Arteta down and is worse than Havertz- Not Jakub Kiwior, not Ben White & not Nelson.
Arsenal’s recent goal-scoring woes have left fans disheartened, particularly in the context of their struggles with strikers. The team’s disappointing 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the FA Cup added to a series of unsatisfactory results. Mikel Arteta’s squad, grappling with a lack of attacking prowess, urgently requires reinforcements in the January transfer window. The persistently lackluster performance is evident in their record of just one victory in their last seven matches across various competitions.
Even in the face of 18 chances against Liverpool, Arsenal managed to hit the target only five times, missing what were labeled as ‘four big chances’ by Sofascore. This trend of missed opportunities was apparent in clashes against West Ham and Fulham, where numerous touches in the opposition’s penalty area failed to translate into goals. Despite creating chances, the team’s inability to score against Liverpool raises concerns about their attacking efficiency.
In the absence of Gabriel Jesus, Arteta entrusted Kai Havertz with leading the line against Liverpool. However, Havertz’s performance was marred by indecision and a lack of finishing finesse. Although a constant option and effective in pressing, Havertz failed to capitalize on two significant opportunities, contributing to an unimpressive display. While his pass success rate was only 67%, he wasn’t the worst performer in Arsenal colors.
Bukayo Saka, typically immune to criticism, experienced a dip in form against Liverpool, sharing the blame for Arsenal’s offensive struggles. Despite being a high earner at £195k per week, Saka’s recent goal-scoring record is disappointing, with only one goal in his last seven matches. His missed chance in the second half, firing over the bar when it seemed easier to score, underscored his difficulties in front of goal. Even the usually reliable Saka faced challenges against Liverpool’s Joe Gomez, losing ground duels and failing with attempted dribbles.
As Arsenal grapples with challenges in their attacking lineup, the responsibility lies on academy graduate Saka and his offensive teammates to improve and rediscover their goal-scoring form. Fans are hopeful for better days ahead for the team.
