Upon Kai Havertz’s arrival at Arsenal, numerous uncertainties arose, particularly regarding his designated position on the field.
During his tenure at Chelsea, the German struggled to establish a consistent role, being deployed as a forward, attacking midfielder, central midfielder, and even occasionally as a winger under the rotation of various managers at Stamford Bridge. However, Mikel Arteta had a clear vision for his utilization.
Reports from the club indicated that upon his controversial £65 million transfer last summer, the intention was to utilize him in midfield, aiming to redefine the number eight position previously occupied by Granit Xhaka and infuse Arsenal’s attacking style with greater aggression.
Initially, this plan was adhered to, with Havertz predominantly featuring as a central midfielder, except for one instance as a center forward during the Community Shield victory over Manchester City. Despite initial challenges in adapting to the new role, Havertz seemed to find his stride around December.
However, football seldom follows a straightforward narrative. Necessity often drives innovation, as was the case here. Injuries to Gabriel Jesus, coupled with a loss of form for Eddie Nketiah and the requirement for Jorginho’s composed presence in midfield, prompted Arteta to push Havertz further forward. Since then, he has excelled in the striker role, featuring in seven consecutive matches.
His performance isn’t confined to a traditional false nine role; rather, he actively participates in aerial duels, makes runs behind defenders, and finishes crosses – tasks reminiscent of players like Harry Kane. This unexpected success led Arteta to adapt his plans.
Havertz has flourished in this role, netting four goals in seven matches, including one against Brighton, marking his highest goal tally in a single Premier League season. With his seamless integration into the striker position, Arteta conceded that he had to discard his initial strategies.
Arteta acknowledged the organic evolution of Havertz’s role, emphasizing the importance of allowing the players’ chemistry to dictate positional adjustments. Despite Arsenal’s surge in the Premier League scoring charts, they are still expected to bolster their forward line in the summer transfer window. Nonetheless, Havertz’s unforeseen success as a center forward may prompt Arteta to reconsider his recruitment plans.