Mikel Arteta told to snub Kai Havertz for Bournemouth with 'crazy' claim on Arsenal replacement
Mikel Arteta has been told he should not start Kai Havertz in midfield when Arsenal take on Bournemouth in the Premier League this afternoon. The £65million summer signing has not started the last two Premier League games with Fabio Vieira being preferred, although he has come back into the team for Carabao Cup and Champions League fixtures.
After starting the Gunners' first four Premier League games of the season, Havertz dropped to the bench for the away trip to Everton earlier this month. As a result of Vieira's strong performance on Merseyside, the Portugal international kept his place for the North London Derby clash against Tottenham.
With rotation in mind, Havertz started against PSV and earlier this week at Brentford which would suggest Vieira will be in from the start on the south coast. However, Arteta confirmed on Friday, alongside a plethora of injuries, that Vieira had a knock and was a potential doubt for the game.
Vieira being out certainly helps Havertz's case for a start, however there is one other player pushing for a starring role. In that game against Brentford, alongside the Germany international in midfield, Emile Smith Rowe started his first game for the Gunners in 499 days.
Injuries have plagued his Arsenal career for the last 18 months, but he finally looks back fully fit and ready to have an impact with his display in west London making a case for a more prominent role this campaign. With Vieira likely to be out and Martin Odegaard undoubtedly on one side of the midfield three, the decision is expected to be between Smith Rowe and Havertz, with former Premier League striker Darren Bent making his choice perfectly clear.
Speaking on talkSPORT, via Just Arsenal, he said: «It’s almost like Arteta has
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