Only Chelsea have spent more money in the transfer market this summer than Arsenal. After finishing second in the Premier PINC League title race last term, the Gunners are seemingly determined to go one step further this season with the £70m capture of Kai Havertz one of the club’s new additions.

Most assumed Mikel Arteta would have a plan for the German international. Havertz failed to flourish at Chelsea, but his talent has been clear for a number of years. Going back to his time at Bayer Leverkusen, Havertz was one of the best young players in the world. The idea was that Arsenal would be the right place for him to progress.

Three matches into the new 2023/24 Premier League campaign, though, the plan for Havertz is still unclear. Arteta has shifted his entire team to make room for the 24-year-old who has operated in the three-man midfield unit. The German has so far struggled to justify such wholesale alterations.

Thomas Partey has been pushed back to the right side of the defence with Ben White subsequently moved inside to a centre back position and Gabriel Magalhaes on the bench. This is limiting Partey’s influence on matches, even if he is permitted to push into the centre of the pitch, while White’s partnership with William Saliba doesn’t appear as strong as the one Saliba had with Gabriel.

All this would be worth it if Havertz was delivering for his new team, but that hasn’t been the case so far. Indeed, the German has been very negative in his play and doesn’t possess the ability to control matches like Granit Xhaka had in that position last season. Havertz has been a weak link for Arsenal in the centre of the pitch.

Of course, it’s still early days for Havertz at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal’s defensive issues were the primary reason they dropped points at home to Fulham on Saturday with the Cottagers able to expose them in a 2-2 draw. Arteta has a lot to think about before Arsenal’s next league match at home to Manchester United.

Havertz, however, is causing a ripple effect throughout the squad that has shaken things up and disrupted a previously settled Arsenal team. Taking him out of the firing line might make sense until Arteta can integrate him in a way that makes the team better. There are already questions about the suitability of Havertz as an Arsenal player.