Arsenal and the rest of the Premier League were rocked on Friday by the news that Manchester City have been found guilty in 114 out of 115 charges for breaching financial regulations.
City are expected to appeal, so any possible punishment is some way off yet, but if a points deduction were to arrive this season, it would make Arsenal heavy favourites to win a second consecutive Premier League title.
The biggest threat to the Gunners’ title defence might come from within, though. Their attacking depth looks thin, and plenty of supporters were left disappointed by a summer window that saw three forwards leave and just one arrive, despite high-profile pursuits of Julian Alvarez and Vinicius Junior.
|
Player |
In/Out |
|---|---|
|
Gabriel Martinelli |
Out |
|
Gabriel Jesus |
Out |
|
Leandro Trossard |
Out |
|
Christos Tzolis |
In |
That lack of cover was exposed again this week. Kai Havertz pulled up in the first half of Germany’s 1-1 Nations League draw with the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Thursday after a challenge from Quinten Timber, and he has returned to Arsenal to be assessed.
The problem is understood to be a minor muscle strain, and with more than two weeks until Arsenal’s next game, the club are optimistic he’ll be fine.
But it’s still a worry – Havertz has started six of Arsenal’s eight games this season and scored three goals, yet he managed only seven Premier League starts last season because of knee and muscle issues, and missed the final three months of 2024-25 with a hamstring tear.
If he’s out for any length of time, Viktor Gyokeres would be Arsenal’s only recognised striker, and the Swede is believed to be seeking a loan move away from the club having played just 29 minutes in the league so far this term.
Now Arsenal appear ready to fix that transfer window mistake.
The Gunners shopped within the Premier League in the summer, bringing in established top-flight performers like Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa. They could return to that approach with Brentford’s Kevin Schade.
Arsenal’s interest in Schade ‘increasing’
According to Sky Sports News’ Lyall Thomas, Arsenal are among a growing list of clubs interested in the German winger, and his rising stock has prompted Brentford to open talks with him over a new long-term contract in a bid to fend off interest.
Chelsea and Tottenham have also tracked him for some time, but Arsenal and Liverpool are believed to be the two accelerating their interest this season. With Liverpool already well stocked out wide after signing Bradley Barcola, the Gunners look the most likely to push ahead.
Schade has been one of the standout performers of the season so far. He has scored three goals in Brentford’s unbeaten start, which has taken them to fourth in the table with home wins over Tottenham and Chelsea.
He also started alongside Havertz for Germany in Amsterdam, as Jurgen Klopp handed him a place in his first game in charge, and with his contract now entering its final two years, the Bees will have little choice but to cash in if they cannot convince him to extend his terms.
It isn’t just Schade’s goals that make him an attractive option for Mikel Arteta. Brentford boss Keith Andrews singled out his work rate after a hat-trick last season.
“Yeah, really pleased and one I feel he deserves. He works tirelessly for the team,” Andrews said. “It’s an attribute that we insist on for our attacking players that they have to run back as quickly as they run forward. He’s a constant threat.
“I feel like in the last couple of weeks he’s been starting to get into really good positions and getting really really close and today was a really nice hat-trick right foot left foot header.
“So it doesn’t come more complete than that. He was excellent today.”
That’s exactly what Arteta demands from his forwards, and Schade’s versatility would be just as valuable.
|
Schade’s career by position |
Apps |
Goals |
Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Left winger |
95 |
29 |
10 |
|
Centre-forward |
59 |
12 |
4 |
|
Right winger |
45 |
10 |
9 |
|
Right midfield |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Left midfield |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Attacking midfield |
1 |
0 |
0 |
For now, Arteta will just be hoping he avoids any more injuries during the international fixtures. Arsenal return from the three-week break looking to bounce back from their 3-0 defeat at Brighton, and they host a Leeds side who boast the joint-best defensive record in the division.