Arsenal finally ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title last season. So what’s next? According to Kai Havertz, everything.
The German forward didn’t hold back when speaking to reporters after Arsenal’s 4-1 preseason demolition of Girona on Saturday. His message was simple and direct.
“We want all the trophies,” Havertz said. “That’s what we’re here for. We won the Premier League now, but there’s a lot more that we can do.”
It’s a statement that carries weight. Especially coming from a player who scored in the Champions League final — a match Arsenal lost on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest.
The Sting of Budapest Still Lingers
That night in May still hurts. Arsenal took the lead inside six minutes through Havertz, only to see Ousmane Dembele level from the spot in the second half. After 120 scoreless extra-time minutes, PSG won the shootout 4-3.
Misses from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel sealed Arsenal’s fate. It was agonisingly close to a historic double.
But rather than dwell on it, Havertz is channelling that pain into motivation.
“We have to reach another level to make that happen,” he said. “We know how long the season is and how hard it is to go through all the competitions.”
He also acknowledged the competition breathing down Arsenal’s neck.
“You see especially other teams getting better, so we have to step up another level again. That’s what we train for.”
He’s not wrong. Manchester City and Chelsea have both shattered their transfer records this summer. Standing still isn’t an option.
Arsenal’s Summer Business So Far
Mikel Arteta’s squad isn’t sitting idle either. The Gunners have already made several notable moves:
- Christos Tzolis joined from Club Brugge for £34m and scored on his debut against Girona
- Goalkeeper Illan Meslier has been signed
- Piero Hincapie has made his loan move permanent
But the real headline grabbers? Two names dominate the rumour mill.
Arsenal are in advanced talks to sign Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, with reports suggesting a deal worth around £80m is close. Sky Sports confirmed today that the Gunners’ opening bid was rejected, though negotiations remain active.
Then there’s Vinicius Junior. The Real Madrid star has just one year left on his contract. ESPN has reported Arsenal are studying the deal’s feasibility, and Arteta coyly laughed off a reporter’s question about it on Saturday. Vini is currently back at Real madrid training while the saga kicks on.
Can you imagine Vinicius on the left wing at the Emirates? It’s the kind of move that shifts the balance of power across European football.
Fresh Faces, Fresh Energy
Meanwhile, Tzolis isn’t waiting around for bigger names to steal his spotlight. The Greek winger topped Arsenal’s preseason fitness tests and looked sharp in Catalonia.
“I’m pretty confident that I will show it in the next games,” Tzolis told reporters. “It’s a chance to play directly from the beginning — and then it’s up to me.”
Sixteen-year-old academy product Max Dowman also turned heads with a mature display, setting up Havertz’s opener before scoring himself. Gabriel Jesus completed the rout.
The early signs are encouraging. Arsenal look hungry, fit, and ready.
Havertz summed it up best:
“We want to start strong and reach our goals this season again.”
After coming so close to a Premier League and Champions League double, settling for less simply isn’t in Arsenal’s vocabulary anymore. The question isn’t whether they’re ambitious enough. It’s whether anyone can stop them.
