Robbie Fowler names the Arsenal star who will cost them the Premier League title

Arsenal will not win the Premier League with Kai Havertz up front, according to Liverpool icon Robbie Fowler.

The Gunners will return to league action later this month six points behind Arne Slot's team, who have also played a game less than their title rivals.

But their title credentials have been questioned in some quarters due to their lack of an out-an-out goalscorer, with Havertz now leading the line. The German international has scored nine league goals this term but also missed some golden chances in big games, leading to calls for another No.9 option.

Although Mikel Arteta opened the door to doing business in the January transfer window, Arsenal did not bring in attacking reinforcements - and Fowler reckons that will cost them dear between now and May.

Speaking on the The LineUp, he said: "If I'm being honest, he's (Havertz) not my cup of tea. I think he’s OK but, if you’re a team that’s got real aspirations of winning Premier Leagues and Champions Leagues, then I think you need someone better than Kai Havertz playing in that focal striker role.

"He’ll do a job but I don’t think he’s been as consistent as he would have liked. I just think there are better players out there."

Only Bukayo Saka scored more Premier League goals for Arsenal than Havertz last season following his big summer transfer from Chelsea, although Arteta has used him in a number of different positions before he finished the 2023-24 campaign strongly as a No.9.

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But that didn't stop the Londoners from weighing up a move for a new striker in the summer, with RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko a top target before opting to sign a new contract with his club.

The Gunners did see a bid for Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins rebuffed late in the January window, however, Fowler has dismissed that move as a "token gesture" given Villa were never going to sell the England star and Jhon Duran, who has since moved to the Saudi Pro league.

Fowler added: "When Arsenal were linked with Ollie Watkins it looked to me like an almost token gesture. Realistically, with Jhon Duran leaving, there was no chance Villa were going to let him go, so it looked a bit to me like it was done to appease the fans as opposed to a serious offer."

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