Kai Havertz completed a £65million transfer to Arsenal earlier in the week and immediately set his sights on Champions League glory.
The Germany international, unlike the Gunners, has experience of lifting European football's biggest club prize having done so with former club Chelsea. In fact, it was the 24-year-old who went someway to repaying his £72million transfer fee by netting the only goal of the game in the 2021 final against Manchester City.
Although with Arsenal set to end their seven-year absence from the Champions League, swapping Stamford Bridge for the Emirates Stadium means Havertz will have the chance to join a select group of players to win the trophy with more than one club next season and he is relishing the challenge.
"I think the Champions League is a special tournament and I think every football player just loves to play there," he said after being unveiled as the north London outfit's first signing of the summer transfer window. "I was fortunate to win the trophy and for me it was the best feeling I've ever had.
"So to play there again next season with Arsenal is very exciting for me. Hopefully I can bring some good attributes into the team, hopefully to win the trophy again. Because I think it's the most special trophy to win."
Of course, for Havertz to complete his mission of helping the Gunners to be crowned Europe's best for the first time in their history at Wembley Stadium on June 1, 2024, he will have to be registered in their Champions League squad which manager Mikel Arteta must submit by September 4.
READ MORE: Arsenal to avoid Real Madrid as Champions League group stage pots confirmed after Man City win
As explained by UEFA, the rule with regard to player registration states: 'Each club is responsible for submitting to UEFA an A list of players (List A) and a B list of players (List B), duly signed by the club and verified, validated and additionally signed by its association'.
'No club may have more than 25 players on List A during the season. As a minimum, eight places are reserved exclusively for "locally trained players" and no club may have more than four "association-trained players" listed in these eight places on List A. List A must specify the players who qualify as being "locally trained", as well as whether they are "club-trained" or "association-trained".'
Havertz is eligible for List A only but as he is not classed as an "association-trained player" it means he will fall into the 17 non-homegrown quota. This, as things stand, poses a slight problem for Arteta as he's over the limit by one even with Pablo Mari, Nicolas Pepe, Auston Trusty and Granit Xhaka expected to leave.
Now, including returning loanees, Matt Turner, Kieran Tierney, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jakub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Jorginho, Fabio Vieira, Mohamed Elneny, Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Runar Alex Runarsson, Cedric Soares, Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga would have to be included on List A if part of the first-team picture.
What this means is for Arsenal to comply with UEFA rules and to avoid leaving non-homegrown players out of their Champions League squad, they'll have to complete at least one more sale and that figure will increase if Jurrien Timber seals a £40million transfer from Ajax.
Who should Arsenal keep or sell this summer? Have your say below!
