By Gabriel Agbonlahor

1st Nov, 2023 | 3:25am

Agbonlahor suggests Arsenal board could pull the plug with Mikel Arteta - 'he can't be trusted'

Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta may not be trusted again with big-money signings if his move for Kai Havertz doesn’t work out.

The former Aston Villa striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the Spaniard “has to play” the 24-year-old summer signing to demonstrate value for money.

Havertz joined Arsenal from Chelsea in the off-season for a reported fee of £65million but is yet to have a real impact at the club.

He has scored just once in 15 appearances across all competitions – a penalty in the 4-0 win over Bournemouth in September.

The Germany international was benched for back-to-back Premier League games following that goal but came back into the side as Arsenal beat Sheffield United 5-0 on Saturday (28 October).

Injury for Gabriel Jesus could give Havertz an increased chance to impress for Arteta’s side.

Agbonlahor told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “We could see Havertz come into the side more and more with Jesus out injured.

“They really need to play him. I’ve said that I wouldn’t play him, but that’s just my point of view.

“But when you put your neck on the line and spend so much money on a player, you have to play him.

“Otherwise the Arsenal board will decide that Arteta can’t be trusted with big money again.

“It’s like Mudryk with Chelsea. Pochettino didn’t sign him, but maybe he’s being told to play him and fit him in.

“Arteta is going to keep having to try and do the same with Havertz.”

In other news, Arsenal close to agreeing defender deal as talks advance.