‘Under the radar’… Chris Sutton says Arsenal have a great signing which rival fans haven’t realised yet

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Chris Sutton has named the Arsenal player Mikel Arteta’s side now simply cannot be without, hinting that he is nearly as important as Declan Rice.

The Gunners are the in-form team in the Premier League right now. They have now scored 31 goals in their last seven top-flight games. In fact, they have not yet dropped a point in 2024.

Of course, so many of their players have stepped up in recent weeks. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard look to be back to their best. Meanwhile, Declan Rice has maintained his brilliant form.

Chris Sutton lauds Arsenal forward Kai Havertz

But perhaps no player has experienced a greater turnaround over the course of the campaign than Kai Havertz. The German international was a surprise signing after a difficult time at Chelsea.

Havertz took some time to get going in North London. It did not appear initially that Mikel Arteta knew exactly how to use Havertz. But something appears to have clicked in recent weeks.

Havertz has been outstanding and scored three goals and contributed two assists in the last three league games. And speaking on It’s All Kicking Off, Chris Sutton has suggested that the 24-year-old has proved a real point, particularly since the turn of the year.

“Do you know who’s been so important to them? Kai Havertz. When he first went there, I think he was really undermined, and a lot of negativity towards him. He’s proven to be such a key cog in this Arsenal team,” he said.

“His forward runs, when he’s playing as a number eight, always running in behind. And there’s that rotation at times. But he’s a go-to guy for Mikel Arteta. And we just talked about the goalkeeping situation with Raya and Ramsdale. Arteta looks really vindicated in terms of his choice of signing.

“Everybody talks about Declan Rice, and I totally get that. But Kai Havertz, under the radar. I think the Arsenal fans appreciate what an important player he has been. He’s one where I’ve really sat up and watched him and thought, blimey, Arsenal can’t do without him.”

Many of us proven wrong

Many of us do have to hold our hands up and admit that Havertz has been so much better than we expected.

It is imperative that he continues to impress. It really feels as though Arsenal are going to have to be nearly perfect to clear the hurdle which proved to be just a little too big for them last year.

Havertz looks to be the first-choice in the striker position right now. And crucially, he is scoring some important goals to go along with his brilliant performances.