Troy Deeney names six best Premier League strikers with Kai Havertz left out for specific reason
Kai Havertz may have transformed himself at Arsenal – but he’s not on the level of his Premier League rivals. That’s the view of Watford icon Troy Deeney, who has omitted the Arsenal star when naming his top six strikers in the Premier League. Havertz is adored by the Arsenal fans – but there’s no place for him in Deeney’s best strikers listGetty Having swapped Chelsea for Arsenal last summer for £65million, Havertz struggled when deployed in a central midfield role, before dazzling when chosen to lead the line by Mikel Arteta from January. He finished last season with 13 top-flight goals – five more than the most he managed in a single campaign during his three years at Stamford Bridge. And with seven strikes already this term, the versatile German is halfway from matching his total tally from last season. However, he hasn’t convinced talkSPORT pundit Deeney that he is an out-and-out centre-forward, with the 25-year-old notably omitted from his list. Giving his reasoning as to why he is not including him in his list, Deeney simply told talkSPORT.com: “I don’t class Havertz as a striker, sorry.” Unsurprisingly, Deeney, who has copped stick for claiming Mohamed Salah is not world class, opted to name Manchester City marksman Erling Haaland as the best in the division. The Norway international is on course to become the first player since Thierry Henry in 2006 to win three consecutive Premier League Golden Boot awards. Haaland is already on 12 goals from his opening 11 matches, and shows no signs of slowing down. Commenting on the ex-Borussia Dortmund talisman, Deeney said: “Erling Haaland is number one, that’s obvious, he’s head and shoulders above everyone.” Deeney then proceeded to name the five best strikers after Haaland, opting to include a benchwarmer over Havertz – here’s who he named. German striker Havertz is the Gunners’ top scorer in the Premier League this season Deeney believes no Premier League striker comes close to Haaland’s quality Nicolas Jackson – Chelsea “I’m not sure whether he can stay onside, I know everyone’s going to say, ‘Oh he’s changed.’ “But the style of play has changed, he’s offside loads, he doesn’t score a lot of his chances. “But when he scores, he scores in bunches.” Jackson has established himself as Chelsea’s starting striker despite previous doubts But Deeney believes the Senegal international has to stay onside more Darwin Nunez – Liverpool “Darwin Nunez is the same [as Jackson], he’s offside a lot. “He’s great for the team, every chance you expect him to score, he misses. “And the harder ones he scores, it’s like you’re just trying to get him to slow down. “But he’s an unbelievable player.” Nunez has found the back of the net five times from his ten league outings this termAFP Jhon Duran – Aston Villa “John Duran just scores every f****** 20 minutes, he’s a joke. “But he’s got a lot to learn and he’s been very short-term at the moment. “What happens in your first year is you get away with it, second, third and fourth year, people start planning to stop you. “He’s getting that luxury right now.” Villa starlet Duran has been lethal off the bench this season Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa “Ollie obviously had a really good season last year, he’s struggled at the start of this year. “I would like him to see him be a bit more consistent. “What do you look for in a striker? I look for chances created vs chances scored. “You’re obviously going to miss more than you score, it’s just the nature of the beast. “But I don’t feel confident when he goes through one-v-one.” Watkins remains Unai Emery’s starting striker – despite scoring just one more than DuranGetty Alexander Isak – Newcastle “He’s a finisher. I wouldn’t be surprised if Chelsea get him. “But they’ve spent a lot of money on everyone basically. “So I don’t know if they would go again, but Isak is a proper finisher.” Isak’s form has seen him linked with a move away from Newcastle in 2025
Kai Havertz may have transformed himself at Arsenal – but he’s not on the level of his Premier League rivals.
That’s the view of Watford icon Troy Deeney, who has omitted the Arsenal star when naming his top six strikers in the Premier League.
Having swapped Chelsea for Arsenal last summer for £65million, Havertz struggled when deployed in a central midfield role, before dazzling when chosen to lead the line by Mikel Arteta from January.
He finished last season with 13 top-flight goals – five more than the most he managed in a single campaign during his three years at Stamford Bridge.
And with seven strikes already this term, the versatile German is halfway from matching his total tally from last season.
However, he hasn’t convinced talkSPORT pundit Deeney that he is an out-and-out centre-forward, with the 25-year-old notably omitted from his list.
Giving his reasoning as to why he is not including him in his list, Deeney simply told talkSPORT.com: “I don’t class Havertz as a striker, sorry.”
Unsurprisingly, Deeney, who has copped stick for claiming Mohamed Salah is not world class, opted to name Manchester City marksman Erling Haaland as the best in the division.
The Norway international is on course to become the first player since Thierry Henry in 2006 to win three consecutive Premier League Golden Boot awards.
Haaland is already on 12 goals from his opening 11 matches, and shows no signs of slowing down.
Commenting on the ex-Borussia Dortmund talisman, Deeney said: “Erling Haaland is number one, that’s obvious, he’s head and shoulders above everyone.”
Deeney then proceeded to name the five best strikers after Haaland, opting to include a benchwarmer over Havertz – here’s who he named.
Nicolas Jackson – Chelsea
“I’m not sure whether he can stay onside, I know everyone’s going to say, ‘Oh he’s changed.’
“But the style of play has changed, he’s offside loads, he doesn’t score a lot of his chances.
“But when he scores, he scores in bunches.”
Darwin Nunez – Liverpool
“Darwin Nunez is the same [as Jackson], he’s offside a lot.
“He’s great for the team, every chance you expect him to score, he misses.
“And the harder ones he scores, it’s like you’re just trying to get him to slow down.
“But he’s an unbelievable player.”
Jhon Duran – Aston Villa
“John Duran just scores every f****** 20 minutes, he’s a joke.
“But he’s got a lot to learn and he’s been very short-term at the moment.
“What happens in your first year is you get away with it, second, third and fourth year, people start planning to stop you.
“He’s getting that luxury right now.”
Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa
“Ollie obviously had a really good season last year, he’s struggled at the start of this year.
“I would like him to see him be a bit more consistent.
“What do you look for in a striker? I look for chances created vs chances scored.
“You’re obviously going to miss more than you score, it’s just the nature of the beast.
“But I don’t feel confident when he goes through one-v-one.”
Alexander Isak – Newcastle
“He’s a finisher. I wouldn’t be surprised if Chelsea get him.
“But they’ve spent a lot of money on everyone basically.
“So I don’t know if they would go again, but Isak is a proper finisher.”
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