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When Kai Havertz arrived at Arsenal, there were uncertainties surrounding his position on the field. Having never settled into a fixed role during his time at Chelsea, the German had been utilized as a forward, attacking midfielder, central midfielder, and even as a winger at times. However, Mikel Arteta had a clear vision for Havertz’s role at Arsenal.
Sources within the club revealed that upon his arrival for a controversial £65 million fee last summer, the plan was to deploy Havertz in midfield. The idea was for the 24-year-old to redefine the number eight position, previously occupied by Granit Xhaka, and transform Arsenal into a more aggressive attacking team.
Initially, this plan was adhered to, with Havertz predominantly featuring as a central midfielder. Although there were some initial struggles as he adapted to his new role, things began to click around December, and it seemed that Arteta’s master plan was coming to fruition.
However, football is rarely that straightforward. Necessity often breeds invention, and circumstances forced Arteta to make a change. An injury to Gabriel Jesus, coupled with a loss of form from Eddie Nketiah, meant that Havertz was moved further up the pitch. Since then, he has excelled as a striker, starting in seven consecutive matches.
It’s important to note that Havertz’s role is not that of a traditional false nine. He is winning aerial duels, getting on the end of crosses, and making runs behind defenders – tasks typically associated with a target man like Harry Kane. His performances have been impressive, scoring four goals in seven matches, including the recent victory over Brighton.
With his success in the centre forward role, Arteta has admitted that he had to abandon his initial plans for Havertz. “A lot of times, the players decide where they have to play,” Arteta stated. “You can have certain ideas, but when you see certain relationships and it flows, you have to let it go. That’s what is happening with Kai at the moment, and he feels really comfortable there.”
Despite Arsenal’s surge in the Premier League scoring charts, they are still expected to strengthen their attacking options in the summer transfer window. However, Havertz’s unexpected success as a striker may prompt Arteta to reconsider his plans and utilize the German in that role more frequently.
This article was updated 1 month ago
