It’s not just Arteta who thinks Havertz is a top quality player. I think Gyokeres will eventually be our first choice striker but having him and Havertz available for that position gives us different options depending on opposition and game states.
Is he our highest earner? Do we know that for sure? As far as I’m aware Saka is our top earner.
Saka’s next deal will make him top earner I’m sure but not been agreed yet.
According to this we are massively overpaying Havertz and Jesus:
Wasn’t Saka’s current contract up to £350k per week depending on performances?
Jesus is a bit of hindsight thing. If he’d not gotten injured in the World Cup and maintained his form we wouldn’t have been saying he is massively overpaid.
Havertz is more subjective but again, injuries are a hindsight thing, he was on course for 15-20 goals before he had a freak training injury. So I think saying he’s “massively overpaid” is harsh. I’d say he’s at the top end of what he’s worth.
Hard to keep up with what’s accurate and what’s truly valid given the general increase in wages but I still think 300k range should be for top end players and neither of them are that. I love Jesus but he should never have been on that money without backing it up first, wages should be retrospective (I.e you get it for demonstrating that quality first) not forecasting potential performance.
I think both are overpaid by at least 80k a week and given that’s around 25% in both cases, it’s a massive overpay imo.
Havertz salary seems high until you notice that he was earning just a little more than Sterling and Zinny combined. Though they were definitely earning too much. Jesus won’t be offered anywhere near that next time, though I can’t see us keeping him.
Irrelevant to the Havertz debate but a top earner on only £280k per week is pretty impressive for a club of our size.
Why are people referring to Havertz as a striker?
Because thats where he plays for us?
Because that was his position before Chelsea broke him and that’s where he ended-up playing for us.
Genuine question, is a false nine a striker or an attacker? I’d say the former if he’s at the top end of our formation and his job is to score goals.
#havertzin - because it irritates a lot of our fans.
This was my point. I consider Havertz to be more of a attacker or forward. A false nine I would call a attacker or forward too. But we all interpret it differently I guess.
Are the words ‘forward’ and ‘striker’ not synonymous for you?
Interesting how a game like FM separate these two and consider there to be a difference. Always wondered why. Would you call a player like Inzaghi a forward or a striker? Bergkamp?
What a discussion. 
I’d describe Bergkamp as a “God” I don’t think any other descriptor does him justice.
I would say no. Saka is a forward, but he isn’t a striker. I would say that a striker is a type of forward, a sub-category within the wider category of forward.
The main issue with Havertz for me is when he gets those glaring opportunities to score crucial goals he’s been found wanting last season. Man Utd in the FA Cup was such a hit to our season. He’s still good but I wouldn’t describe him as clinical enough.
He does a lot of things really well up top and is a capable goalscorer but I’d say Merino actually has the better shooting and finishing instincts albeit less mobile than Havertz. For me he’s a key member of a 18 man set up, but an out and out goal threat was so needed. I don’t remember us trying that in Arteta’s reign so far.
I get it for wide players. But for central players like Havertz, Inzaghi & Bergkamp, I don’t see the difference between a ‘forward’ & ‘striker’. They are both two words for the same role.
Bergkamp could also be called an AM because he tends to have a forward/striker in front of him.
Oh my days, this reminds me of debates about Totti, KdB, Ozil, Kaka, Messi and other players that played a lot as a 10, if they’re considered midfielders or forwards.
Such an international break discussion.
Exactly.
That’s why a signing like Gyokeres for me is what we need now. I’ve said before I’m usually for the build up merchants but I think having both options will do us best in the near future.
They should just use better terminology
GK - Backest
CB - Backer
DM - Back
M - Mid
AM - Forward
CF - Forwardest
Centre half enters the discussion 
Prime OA this.