Rio Ferdinand shares insights from Declan Rice about Arsenal team-mate Kai Havertz

Rio Ferdinand has revealed the thoughts of Arsenal players on Kai Havertz after a discussion with Declan Rice.

Havertz took just 25 minutes to notch his first goal of the Premier League season when he headed home from Bukayo Saka’s cross to help the Gunners on their way to a 2-0 win over Wolves on Saturday.

The German international came under fire after enduring a slow start to life in north London following his £65million move from Chelsea.

But he flourished in the second half of last season, scoring nine goals and providing six assists in the final 14 games of a title run-in which saw Mikel Arteta’s side narrowly miss out by just two points to Manchester City.

Arsenal have been linked with a number of strikers throughout the summer transfer window and many pundits have argued that Arteta needs to bring in a new centre forward to challenge City again.

However, Ferdinand claims Havertz has the backing of his teammates to lead the line and spearhead Arsenal’s title charge this season.

‘Do you know what, I spoke to Declan Rice the other day and he spoke about Havertz in such glowing terms,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel today.

‘Like “we don’t need a number nine, Havertz is our guy”. The confidence he exuded about Havertz… I was like, I didn’t know you guys felt like that about him.

‘He’s a roving, moving centre forward, 10 goals in his last 15 games so he did well at the end of the season.

‘But I’m expecting big things, just based on that one conversation with a player that currently plays with him.

‘It’s important when sometimes you hear… they see every day, they see the little details.’

Newly appointed England coach Joleon Lescott, who appeared as a guest on the Manchester United legend’s podcast, agreed with Rice.

He said: ‘I’m stuck here when people say Arsenal need a number nine because if they have a number nine like Haaland, I don’t think they perform the same way.

‘Their team shape would have to be different. They need Jesus to track back the way he does, they need Havertz to be fluid.

‘It’s easy to say you could get a number nine who scores you 20 goals but then you’re potentially playing with 10 men – and it’s only Man City that can play with 10 men.’

Former Chelsea assistant manager Jody Morris also pointed to City’s previous title successes without using a recognised striker.

He added: ‘You can also dominate games if you’re not playing with an out and out nine. If you look at the years before Haaland, they [Man City] never played with a number nine.’

Gary Lineker is among those who are adamant that Havertz alone isn’t the answer for Arsenal and he believes the Gunners should sign Ivan Toney from Brentford.

Fellow BBC Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer also thinks Arsenal will win the title if they can bring in an out and out goalscorer.

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