Having failed to reinforce the attack during the January transfer window, the pressure of leading Arsenal’s forward line rests on Kai Havertz’s shoulders for the rest of the season.
While the Germany international doesn’t necessarily fit the mould of a traditional number 9, he’s been making a decent fist of the situation scoring 18 goals and making 9 assists in 37 Premier League games since this time last year.
Most impressively, he’s only been absent from two matchday squads in that period – both due to illness last month – a record that has led manager Mikel Arteta to describe the 25-year-old as a “genetic powerhouse”.
While the Spaniard admitted yesterday that he was disappointed not to strengthen a forward line shorn of Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka, he believes Havertz, with a helping hand from Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri, can keep the Gunners challenge for honours on track.
“He’s played a lot of football but his robustness, his availability is unbelievable,” said Arteta ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final with Newcastle United.
“When you ask him, he feels better when he’s playing every three days. Against Girona, for example, we gave him a rest and then he felt fresher.
“He had a very demanding game physically against [Manchester] City for the role that he had to do so let’s see how he is. The players give you a lot of information but if you are playing well, you’re scoring goals, all this helps I think.”
Asked if it’s a possibility that Havertz starts every game for the rest of the season, Arteta said: “I don’t know, this is a possibility. Maybe we go through that scenario and he scores another 15, 18 goals. Can you imagine? That’s a good scenario!”
He added: “Genetically, he is a powerhouse. He is so well-built. He is a player that anything you ask him, he is happy to do: to run in zone six, to be very robust, to make long distances. His body absorbs everything. And then he really looks after himself.
“When you see the professional, how he lives his life, it is immaculate. He does more than any other player there. That is not a coincidence. And then I think he is so intelligent.
“He knows what is good for him and what is not. We know how to manage him and we believe that when he says something it is for the right reason, not because he wants to avoid something. When something works, don’t touch him.”
While Arteta is adamant that the departure of Sporting Director Edu did not impact Arsenal’s January recruitment drive – plans having been mapped out months in advance – it’s clear the club need a permanent successor in place sooner rather than later.
For the time being Jason Ayto holds the role on an interim basis and his to-do list is long and varied. The Gunners are said to be close to sealing an agreement with Spain international Martin Zubimendi and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak are also on the radar. A new backup goalkeeper is also needed.
In the short term, there are no immediate concerns over the contract length of the squad’s biggest names, however, they will need to start having conversations with those whose deals end in 2027, including William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
“We have the Sporting Director which is Jason, it’s clear,” said Arteta of the current situation.
“He’s been [in control] since the departure of Edu from day one given full responsibility, all our support from that aspect. And what the club wants to do after that is not on me. It’s a club decision to try to appoint the person that they believe is the best and I will be in full support of that.
“The decision I think it will be done relatively quickly. Whether it’s Jason or somebody else I don’t know, but I think that decision will be done quite early.”
What’s zone six?
Just googled it, looks it’s basically pressing the keeper or whoever has the ball in the box in front of goal?
https://www.sportsessionplanner.com/s/fHL4h/Defensive-Zones-and-Actions.html
Indeed a powerhouse. Even his worst detractors can’t say he squeezes every bit of energy out of himself for the team. And I’m not his worst detractor. Is he the ideal striker? Of course not. Should we have bought another one? Absolutely. But in so many ways I’d rather have him than many strikers who finish better but don’t do everything else he does that helps us win. AND he does score too don’t forget, 15 so far this season. A more clinical striker might have buried the first chance he had vs City but not had the stamina and… Read more »
i absolutely agree with all you say, but to answer your question, the better striker is the one who scores first
I guess the ultimate litmus test of priorities is would you trade him for Chris Wood?
I don’t think there are too many strikers around who can boast 27 goal contributions in their last 37 premier league games
I feel the plonkers out there who don’t think Kai is good really have no idea about football and no idea what they’re watching.
Havertz still continues to get brickbats from Arsenal fans.
Does he miss good chances? Yes.
Does he often look cumbersome? Yes.
Is he a striker? No.
And that’s the key. He is being asked to play out of position, week in and week out, which is not his fault, but the clubs poor recruitment in the striking department. I think he’s a great player and will only grow as a leader within this group and am glad to have him at the club.
I don’t think he looks cumbersome tbh. He actually has great technique too. Also, he wasn’t missing chances for most of 24. I also don’t think he is playing out of position at this point – he can play 9, 8 or 10 now (or full back if you’re Nagelsmann). We clearly need other options as everything is on him right now, but I think it’s best we have a bit more faith in Kai. Maybe he will miss some more chances – but the recent narrative seems to be that a ‘proper’ striker would basically miss no chances which… Read more »
Very well said. I feel like the misses mostly started recently this season actually after he had a bad flu, and probably now also have to do with fatigue from the load placed on him now. The important part is that he’s back to scoring now even if he also occasionally misses a sitter. To me it’s mostly a matter of fitness and confidence with him and – mark my words if you will – I wouldn’t be surprised to see him hit a hat trick soon.
The “he’s not a striker” narrative is tiresome. He’s very different from Erling Haaland, but guess who had the better game and helped his team tonk the other? If you reduce it to how many goals he scores then he looks like an average PL striker, but with striker’s numbers nonetheless. If you look at his overall contributions on and off the ball though it’s clear he helps the team win in lots of ways. He adapts his game to how you want to win that day. He gives you 100% effort game in and game out. He’s an impeccable… Read more »
Most strikers get a lot of hate from their fans. A quick review of the premier league strikers would show that it is really difficult to score goals. Havertz has definitely done way better than I thought. I had always thought that for 65 million pounds there is no upside to the deal but his availability (touchwood) is an enormous factor. In this regard even Giroud had a brilliant career even though he was never brilliant.