Kai Havertz is about to move from Chelsea to Arsenal. Here are the different ways Mikel Arteta could use the German international.
In one of the most baffling transfers of the summer term, Kai Havertz goes to Arsenal.
The Gunners have agreed a fee with Chelsea to sign the German international, who will undergo a medical in the coming days before his transfer from West London to North London.
It’s a move by Arsenal that baffles many people, but there may be some method behind the madness. Here’s how Mikel Arteta could use Havertz.
Havertz joined Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen as a second striker or number ten, although he spent most of his time at Stamford Bridge as a centre-forward.
He has hardly been a natural number nine – a return of 32 goals in 139 appearances for the Blues more than supports this – but the 24-year-old joins an Arsenal side not necessarily dependent on their forward to play. find it as well.
Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli each finished with 15 goals in all competitions during the 2022/23 season. Starting forward Gabriel Jesus managed 11 despite him picking up an injury mid-season.
Havertz could be used as a selfless striker, while there have been suggestions Jesus could return to the wing in the long term, as he did at Manchester City.
The problem with Havertz’s return to number 10 is that it’s the same position held by club captain Odegaard.
However, Arsenal fans on social media were quick to conclude that Arteta could be looking to recreate Pep Guardiola’s 3-2-4-1 formation at Man City, with Havertz mostly granite on the pitch.
Even though Arteta uses a regular 4-2-3-1 formation, Havertz would at least be a stylistic support similar to Odegaard
When your eyes weep and puff up, trust me, mine do too.
But let’s rationalize any decision Arteta might make to play Havertz a little deeper. We have seen from the German’s time in England that he is clearly not a dominant forward and often misses when played into the hole.
What if the solution from the start had been to get Havertz into the positions where he needed to get the ball? What if his technical wizardry is easier to see in a possession-based team that is still growing?
Look, I’m not saying I necessarily believe it myself, but I’m making a plea here.
This is an unlikely option as Bukayo Saka’s place in the squad is secure and he plays around 100 games a season, but there could still be times when Havertz starts on the wing and comes on.
Right-handers are a hot commodity, so it would help Arsenal if they could actually add another player with such a profile to their ranks.
