The Big Discussion: Kai Havertz shining for Arsenal
Kai Havertz benefits from Mikel Arteta’s evolving Arsenal side
The German forward us leading the line for the Gunners and is now working well with Bukayo Saka.
Let's explore the impact that he's having at the moment.
As long as Bukayo Saka maintains his remarkable consistency, he’ll remain the standout star at Arsenal. The academy-grown winger notched his sixth and seventh assists of the season during the Gunners’ comeback victory against relegation-threatened Southampton on Saturday afternoon, also netting his second league goal of the campaign.
Saka ranks among the Premier League’s top 10 players for shots, key passes and dribbles this season, showcasing the full extent of his attacking prowess. As Arsenal chase their first league title in over two decades, Saka is undoubtedly the main man. However, it would be wrong to say Arsenal are a one-man team. At 23, Saka is clearly Mikel Arteta’s crown jewel, but he is surrounded by other equally brilliant talents.
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One such talent is Kai Havertz, who arrived at the Emirates last summer with an air of mystery. Primarily used as a striker during his time at Chelsea, the German insisted this wasn’t his best position. Arteta seemed to agree when he signed the 25-year-old, initially deploying him in midfield to fill the void left by Granit Xhaka, who departed for Bayer Leverkusen last year.
Although a different player to Xhaka, Havertz is an intelligent, hard-working presence off the ball and could offer the same attacking support that Xhaka once brought. However, the decision to use Havertz in midfield didn’t pay off, and he appeared lost in the role. But with £65m spent to bring him from Chelsea, Arteta couldn’t afford to let such a high-profile signing go to waste.
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Eventually, Arteta made the switch he should have made from the start – playing Havertz up front. With Gabriel Jesus sidelined by injury, Havertz took on the central attacking role and thrived. Suddenly, he fit the system perfectly. His style of play complemented Saka on the right and either Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard on the left. By dropping deeper to receive the ball, he created space for the wide players, drawing defenders out of position.
After years of struggling to find his ideal role, Havertz has finally found his place in North London. His form in the second half of the season was no fluke – he has now elevated his game to become one of Arsenal’s key players in their pursuit of both domestic and European success.
Arsenal fans love him
Check out the video below of Arsenal fans singing his name. The video is from the GMCR Football YouTube account.
DJ, an Arsenal fan, said he's a fantastic player and considers him to be his favourite of this current Arsenal side. He added: "He looks much more comfortable now, dropping deep and linking up with Saka and Martinelli. He makes a huge difference with his movement and ability to pull defenders out of position."
Jamie, another fan of the North London side, appreciates his versatility. "He's intelligent and works hard off the ball. It’s not always flashy, but it’s effective," explains one long-time Gooner. "He’s like Giroud in that sense – not the biggest goal-scorer, but his work and effort helps the team so much."
Laura, an Arsenal Season Ticket holder, added: "Like many of my fellow Arsenal fans, I now love Havertz. I trust that over this season he’ll continue to become a key player for us."
