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The longest Kai Havertz went without a Premier League goal last season was four games. In just 21 starts, he scored nine times, assisting another three.

Whilst Arsenal's lack of goals was certainly a massive issue for Mikel Arteta, it would be wrong to suggest that Havertz himself was the real problem with a record like that. Instead, the thing that really hampered Arteta was the lack of an alternative.

Gabriel Jesus hit a purple patch over Christmas but was then injured and ruled out for the season. Havertz, again, was left with the burden of being the only player able to operate regularly as a functional No.9.

If Havertz had stayed fit then it is not to say that Arsenal would have won the title - they were already behind Liverpool because during the four-game Havertz goalless run they lost twice and drew the other two; but the failure to add proper depth to the position was costly. Jesus, even when available, was not really an answer.

Once Havertz was ruled out for all but the remainder of the season from early February, any chance of closing the gap was gone. Arsenal pushed hard in Europe and prioritised the Champions League but were always up against it without the strength behind their starters that Paris Saint-Germain had.

So, with Arsenal looking for new strikers this summer,it should be remembered that it is not necessarily to replace Havertz but to compliment and work with him. It is not just Arteta's strongest XI that needs addressing, but the quality of those on the bench and in rotation.

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That is where Arsenal have fallen short for three years now. Havertz, with a perfectly respectable 22 league goals and 10 assists in two seasons (not all of which was played as a centre forward) is not the underlying worry.

He scored in nine separate matches last season so cannot be criticised with stat-padding. He contributed to goals in 10 out of the 23 games he appeared in. That was 10 from 21 before the late return to the squad, by which point there was very little to gain or play for.

Per90, he averages 0.44 goals per game and 0.20 assists at Arsenal in the league. Combined, that is 0.64 per match and a good showing. His underlying metrics are decent enough as well with 0.44 expected goals (xG) per90 and 0.57 expected goals and assists (xG+xA). These do not vary massively since his move to England in 2020, showing consistency and something reliable.

Havertz has not proven himself to be solely enough to go all the way for a team, but his output is firmly predicable and entirely useful. As a focal point, he is not exceptional at scoring or assisting but he links well with teammates and ranks incredibly well in most passing metrics.

The 26-year-old is the creative force that he appeared in Germany at Bayer Leverkusen,and he really has leant into being a target-man with physicality and aerial threat, but still serves a role. He does not setup for his teammates but does serve them well to keep the ball, recycling it and moving forward.

His missed chances catalogue is big and costly in certain games but is not the reason why Arsenal could not sustain a title push last season or beat PSG. After taking six months to settle, and get moved from midfield to striker again, he has been strong and solid.

This is not the sort of player to discard or forget about. However, when expensive players who are specialists up front are being targeted, like Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres - even Hugo Ekitike, if reports in Germany are to be believed - then it is understandable why the known quantity of Havertz is being forgotten somewhat.

Should Arsenal spend over £65million Gyokeres, as the Sporting CP president is demanding as a minimum to start negotiations, then he would be expected to start. This is the bulldozing striker Arsenal have been after, prioritising months of Andrea Berta's early time in charge chasing.

The same goes for Sesko. At 23, he is younger, much more raw, and potentially upwards of £20million more costly as well. It would be more acceptable, on the face of it, if he was to play second fiddle to Havertz more often than Gyokeres, who is in his prime years.

But either way, with pre-season preparations starting next week and still no public tangible evidence that Arsenal are moving towards one or the other quickly, Havertz may well start the season as Arsenal's first-choice yet again. It would be frustrating for many if the Premier League started again in August with that still being the case and no other player signed, but just because Havertz is starting matches it does not mean Arsenal have missed the trick.

He is a perfectly serviceable No.9 and what Arteta needs is more than one option able to do it. Havertz is still versatile enough to be used deeper, either as a No.10 or attacking No.8 if needed. He has played off the wing before. Over the length of a season, he will be needed.

Just because Arsenal plan to go big on another striker does not mean it is game over for him. That must not be missed in the bigger picture with everything going on.