Arsenal fan Darren Bent has told Mikel Arteta to bench Kai Havertz and keep his trust in Thomas Partey.
The Gunners have not messed around this summer and have spent over £200million already in the transfer window.
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That has included Declan Rice, who was announced on Saturday, and has cost up to £105m from West Ham.
He joins Jurrien Timber and Havertz through the door at the Emirates in a huge shake-up for Arteta’s side.
It has led to fans questioning where Partey, who has been linked with a switch to Saudi Arabia, will fit in Arteta’s line-up in the upcoming season.
But ex-Tottenham striker and talkSPORT pundit Bent reckons Arteta should continue starting Partey – even if it means benching £65m Havertz.
Speaking on Twitter, the former Premier League striker posted: “I’d keep Thomas Partey, Partey, Rice, [Martin] Odegaard that’s a serious midfield combination, give Rice more of a license to go forward.”
One fan replied and asked where does Havertz play and Bent replied: “He don’t.”
It would be quite a surprise not to see Havertz in the starting line-up come the first game of the season at Arsenal.
The Gunners face Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley on August 6.
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And many believe the former Chelsea star will replace Granit Xhaka as an attacking midfielder on the left-hand side of a midfield three featuring Odegaard and Rice.
Like Xhaka, Havertz is left-footed and likes to get forward, something the Switzerland international enjoyed last season under Arteta.
But the 30-year-old has moved to Bayer Leverkusen and has left a gaping hole in Arsenal’s midfield, which Havertz is expected to fill.
However, even Arteta has insisted that the Germany international is not at the Emirates to replace Xhaka.
Speaking after his low-key debut against Nurnberg, Arteta said: “He’s not a replacement [for Xhaka].
“He’s not gonna be like-for-like because everybody’s going to be very different to what Granit gave us.
“It will be very different, but Kai has tremendous qualities for our way of playing.
“We will see. We have to see how he adapts and get to know each other, and build relationships.
“Football is about that, and time will tell where he sees best.”
