'Respectfully' - Ex Liverpool and Fulham star lands dig at £65m Arsenal man

Former Liverpool and Fulham winger Ryan Babel has questioned whether Arsenal forward Kai Havertz has the quality to lead the side to a Premier League title after the London outfit failed to recruit a new talisman during the summer transfer window.

The Germany international, who arrived at the Emirates Stadium from London rivals Chelsea for £65 million in June 2023, has nine goals in all competitions this term but still faces criticism for how he leads the line. Havertz scored against West Ham during Saturday's 5-2 victory, his first top flight goal since facing Southampton at the start of October.

Speaking to Instant Casino, Babel said: "I think that could be the difference for Arsenal between winning the Premier League title. They do have good players up front, but I feel in a similar way to Liverpool, Arsenal’s No. 9 position is not a position where you are guaranteed 25 goals, unlike Man City with Haaland.

"I don't think we should blame the striker position at Arsenal for them not winning the league or any titles. I think it's a combination of a lot of different factors. It's up to the coach and the club to find those elements, but the striker is one of those positions where you can definitely improve.

Gunners most ‘go up a notch’ from Havertz

"Respectfully, Havertz is a good player. If you compare the strikers in the past like Robin van Persie, Thierry Henry - Havertz is not in that category. He's a good player, I'm not disrespecting, but that in my opinion is the reality.

"I feel like Arsenal should still aim for those types of players and that could maybe lift them, and help the level go up a notch."

The Gunners had been linked with transfer interest in several high profile strikers during the summer. Wantaway former Brentford man Ivan Toney and Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak were touted to be leading candidates, with former Bologna talisman Joshua Zirkzee also linked before his move to Manchester United.

Instead, the Gunners splurged money on full-back Riccardo Calafiori, midfielder Mikel Merino and made the loan move of goalkeeper David Raya permanent. Arteta has also been boosted by the return of Jurrien Timber this season, who feels somewhat of a new signing having missed almost all of his debut season with an injury last time out.

Jurrien Timber is ‘incredible’ for Arsenal

Babel, who made 107 Premier League appearances while at Liverpool and Fulham, praised the influence of Timber. He said: "Yeah, Timber is incredible, and he’s such a nice person and a good professional. I remember in my last spell at Ajax, he was in the second team, sometimes he played against the first team. We had these friendly matches against the second team where I as a No. 9 had to play against him. I was already thinking, ‘Who's this defender? He's so annoying.’

"He's a good reader of situations and is not easy to pass. From watching him playing, I think his best position is as a centre back. He's very good at the build-up, he's very calm, he reads situations very well. The centre back role, for me, that's his best position. I know in the Premier League they're always questioning the height of a centre back which may also be a problem for him.

"He has the ability to play in multiple positions, but I do believe that centre back is his favourite position and that's where you get the best form from him."