‘Far from the money’… Dion Dublin claims one Arsenal player is a ‘luxury’, suggests Gunners have overpaid

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Pundit Dion Dublin believes that Kai Havertz is a ‘luxury’ player for Arsenal.

Arsenal were in blistering form again on Saturday evening as they demolished Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium.

The midweek defeat at Porto was long forgotten as Arsenal showed unbelievable intensity from the word go.

You could certainly make a case that Arsenal’s 4-1 win actually flattered Newcastle as the gulf between the two sides was much bigger, especially in the first half.

Mikel Arteta brought Jorginho and Kai Havertz into the side and it worked a treat as Arsenal ran riot against the Magpies.

Dion Dublin on Kai Havertz

Havertz was given the nod in attack and produced a strong performance.

The German slotted home Arsenal’s second goal, converting Gabriel Martinelli’s cross to improve Arsenal’s word.

Havertz did miss a golden chance to add another goal after the break, firing wide with the goal at his mercy.

This is life with Havertz as a striker; moments of brilliance and moments that will leave you scratching your head.

Pundit Dion Dublin really isn’t convinced and shared his concerns whilst speaking on The Weekend Wrap for Premier League Productions.

Dublin suggested that Havertz is just ‘doing okay’ right now and certainly isn’t worth the money spent on him in recent years.

Chelsea paid £75.8million for him in 2020 and Arsenal forked out £65million to bring him across London.

That’s more than £140million in fees and Dublin doesn’t think the fees accurately represent what Havertz is offering.

Dublin believes that Havertz needs to play as a number 10 rather than as a striker, even calling him a luxury player.

Dublin feels that Arsenal are forced to use Havertz up front right now and he should be scoring more goals.

“I think he’s doing okay,” said Dublin. “He’s far from the money that people have spent on him. Some lovely little touches but he’s not a centre forward. He’s a player that I feel has to play in a 10 role, because he’s got a very creative brain and he’s not an out-and-out goalscorer.”

“Yes,” said Dublin when asked if Havertz is a luxury player. “At the moment, they’re having to use him. He’s getting goals, he’s not getting as many as he should but I think he’s okay, I just can’t figure out his best position,” he added.

The debate around Havertz’s best position has swirled ever since his arrival at Chelsea back in 2020.

German football has regularly featured ‘raumdeuters’, players who don’t have a fixed position but find spaces in the final third.

Thomas Muller was the best example but Havertz fits a similar bill having thrived in a similar role in Germany.

That role and style of play doesn’t really exist in English football and many have tried to put Havertz in a definitive box – is he a striker, a playmaker, a midfielder, a wide player?

Havertz still doesn’t have that fixed position and it may be better to understand what he is – a fine exploiter of space in the final third – than criticise him for what he isn’t.