Kai Havertz should aim to increase his Chelsea goal tally compared to last season. Photo: Getty Images/David Price. In the first few weeks of his career at Arsenal, Kai Havertz tried to keep things simple. When it came time for the German to perform his opening song in front of teammates, for example, he opted for his favorite karaoke – Wonderwall by Oasis – instead of something more adventurous.
“There was nothing easy on the pitch in Havertz’s new role in his new club. Arsenal signed him predominantly to replace Granit Xhaka in their midfield, but Havertz has already shown, after only four friendlies before the season, that he will approach the position in a completely different way than his predecessor.
“From the moment Arsenal decided to pay £65m for Havertz, it was clear that Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu had a clear plan. That vision is already beginning to take shape: Havertz has scored two goals in three games on the club tour of the US, and against Barcelona this week he looked sharp and dangerous in central midfield.
Havertz at the end of the post 🔥 pic.twitter.com/e98J9hNmMe
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 27, 2023
Well, not exactly from the center of midfield. Describing Havertz as a midfielder is only half the battle, because so far in the Arsenal shirt he has managed to play both a midfielder and a striker at the same time. It is already clear that the 24-year-old was given the freedom and incentive to attack the box at every opportunity, something that never crossed Xhaka's mind.
Both of Havertz's goals in the US came at the back post. Both occurred when the ball was crossed from the right side. Against Barcelona in Los Angeles, Havertz could have added a couple more if the right wing had been more accurate. Whenever the ball hit Bukayo Sake's feet on the flank, Havertz would rush to the back post.
»I always have to get there,» Havertz said of his new role and expectations from him. attack the penalty area. “I think it's important for my position and also with my height. I want to score goals, that's part of my game. I hope it works more often in the league now.”
How many goals can Havertz score from midfield this season if he stays in shape and keeps running into danger zones? Xhaka, who didn't have the same aerial threat or attacking instinct, scored seven times in the league last season. Double-digit numbers are quite possible for Havertz in pre-season optimism.
Havertz has already scored twice in pre-season. a season for Arsenal. Credit: Getty Images/Ronald Martinez
Thomas Tuchel, Havertz's former manager at Chelsea, once asked if a player should be given a specific position. «Is he some sort of hybrid?» Tuchel said a few years ago.
These are the earliest days of Havertz's Arsenal career, but this «hybrid» description seems accurate. In addition to those moments when he threw himself into the box, Havertz dropped into midfield to help Arsenal pass the ball. Half striker, half midfielder, depending on the moment.
“I really enjoy playing this position,” he said. “I have more possession of the ball, I am more integrated into the game. I think I have room to grow — I'm still adapting. [But] it works pretty well so far.
“Obviously it's a completely different style of football than the one we played at Chelsea. I think this is a style that suits me very well. Of course, it always takes time to get used to it. I've been here for two and a half weeks. It will take some time, but I will do my best to try and perform at a high level.”
On defense, Havertz is still learning where he needs to be and when. Unlike those free throws, Xhaka was natural in this area of the game. Havertz is instinctively a more forward-thinking player, and it can take some time to learn the necessary positional discipline. Against Barcelona, he was booked for trying to stop a counter-attack and Arsenal's midfield was wide open.
The hope at the club is that Havertz is in the right place, with the right manager and the right environment to add these qualities into his game in the near future. Arsenal were looking to get their most important transfer deals done earlier this summer — Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber signed before the tour — and that gave the trio more time to adapt.
»The team is great and we We definitely feel at home already,” said Havertz. “They made it easy for me to integrate into the team. They are fun to be with, they are all so young and hungry. This is exactly what I wanted. I am very happy to be here.”
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