5-foot-11 Striker Sold by Arsenal in a Deal Worth Just £4m, Now Outscoring Kai Havertz
Arsenal have undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years.
In the 2021/22 season, Mikel Arteta’s side missed out on securing a top-four finish after a late-season collapse, which included a crushing 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Since that disappointing run, the Gunners have emerged as consistent title contenders in the Premier League. Much of this resurgence can be attributed to Arteta and his key signings, including Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, and even Kai Havertz.
Despite Havertz’s improved performances in the second half of last season, one of Arsenal’s former strikers, who didn’t find success during his time in North London, has outscored him consistently over the past few years.
Havertz’s Recent Record
Arsenal completed the £65 million signing of Kai Havertz last summer. This move came as a surprise to many, given that while Havertz has undeniable talent, he was coming off a rather underwhelming season in West London.
During his final season with Chelsea, Havertz scored just nine goals and provided only one assist in 47 appearances. This resulted in a poor average of one goal involvement every 4.7 games, which is particularly concerning given that he played 30 of those matches as a centre-forward.
However, after his transfer to Arsenal and a period of settling in with Arteta’s squad, Havertz began to remind everyone of the promise he showed during his time at Bayer Leverkusen. He displayed the skill that once made him such a highly anticipated player in Germany.
In his debut season at Arsenal, the 25-year-old managed to score 14 goals and provide seven assists. This resulted in a much-improved average of a goal involvement every 2.42 games, despite the fact that he played 32 of his 51 matches in midfield.
Nevertheless, if Havertz wants to stand out this season, he will need to significantly elevate his game. He faces the challenge of outscoring a former Arsenal player, who has been consistently outperforming him over the past few years.
Perez’s Recent Record
Lucas Perez, the player in question, signed with Arsenal from Deportivo La Coruna during the summer of 2016 for a transfer fee around £17 million.
After just one season, where he netted seven goals—including a hat-trick in the Champions League—and provided five assists in 21 appearances, he was loaned back to Deportivo. He was later sold to West Ham United for approximately £4 million.
In the following years, the A Coruña native played for several clubs, moving from East London to Alaves, then Elche, and Cadiz, before eventually returning to his childhood team, Deportivo. Despite these frequent moves, Perez has consistently proven to be a reliable goalscorer throughout his career.
In the 22/23 season, the 5-foot-11 striker netted 13 goals and contributed eight assists across 36 matches, averaging a goal involvement every 1.71 games.
The following season, he improved on that performance, scoring 16 goals and assisting 19 in just 35 appearances, achieving an impressive goal involvement rate of one per game.
| Havertz vs Perez | ||
|---|---|---|
| 22/23 | Havertz | Perez |
| Games | 47 | 36 |
| Goals | 9 | 13 |
| Assists | 1 | 8 |
| Goal involvements per match | 0.21 | 0.58 |
| 23/24 | Havertz | Perez |
| Appearances | 51 | 35 |
| Goals | 14 | 16 |
| Assists | 7 | 19 |
| Goal involvements per match | 0.41 | 1.00 |
| Stats Source: Transfermarkt | ||
There’s an important consideration that he’s currently competing in a less demanding league with reduced pressure, but it’s noteworthy to observe how a player who found it difficult to adjust at Arsenal is now excelling in Spain.
In the end, Perez may very well outscore Havertz this season, but based on their performances last year, it appears that both forwards are now at clubs where they are best suited.
In other Arsenal news, Arsenal’s Edu Warned About Three Transfer Errors That Might Come Back to Haunt Him
