Kai Havertz: Page 52 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Kai Havertz

lorddulaarsenal

He’s so good. He’s able to reach balls others can’t, has a composed touch and is really direct.

Love him to bits

banduan

Qwiss I think the tactical tweak to have him and Trossard dovetail has suited him much more. He needs someone near him to pick up the knockdowns he's winning. It's like Artetas remixed the classic little man, big man striker system into new false 9, false 10 little man, big man.

we can no longer think along the lines of classic roles now. Odegard is an 8/10, Kai and Trossard both float front and back between the 8/9/10 positions, Martinelli drifts in and at several points yesterday was drifting into the #9 position. It's deliberately very fluid.

flobaba

banduan yeah Havertz may not (never) be prolific in terms of goal scoring but his work rate and hold up play are critical upfront and make us click. Obviously some tactical changes were made during the break pertaining to his role, in combination with Trossard’s that help with our fluidity upfront. Getting Zinchenko out of the way and inverting Benny Blanco has also helped with our defensive solidity and structure building out of the back. It’s looking good.

Q; does Jesus win his shirt back when he is fit again ? I think Havertz + Trossard > Havertz + Jesus.

Qwiss

banduan yeah this is it. And that fluency is working at the moment, the parts are connecting the way Arteta wants and we are dominating. We are essentially playing with an almost 4-1-5-0 system that has 4 defenders, a defensive mid and 5 attacking mids/wingers with no real CF. Klopp said in one of our games against them, not the win, that he didn't know what do when Kai and Ode were both playing as 10s. Now those 2 are still doing that but Trossard is playing like a false 9 too.

JazzG

His touch and passing at times are inconsistent but his runs and positioning is so good. Also has a great engine on him, ran all game and didn’t get tired. Just his size gives us a bit of physical supremacy in many situations.

Mirth

Qwiss total chaos merchant but his goal was something silky - right out of his Leverkusen days

JazzG

Mirth I do wonder whether it is purely down to confidence, like you say that goal was so smooth and he does occasionally show flashes.

Qwiss

Mirth his goal was lovely, if he can start doing that at 0-0 or 1-0 he'll be flying. For now I'd still start him and Trossard together as its working. We seen plenty of times where injuries forced Wenger to find solutions like that which worked. The trick is to stick with what works and not switch it up just because Jesus comes back. If teams start figuring it out then you switch it up again. I think thats just how it goes in the Premier League.

lorddulaarsenal

Mirth finished with his weaker foot too

Doc

Arteta really starting to unlock his potential, it's as almost like he is being given a free drifter role in the team recently to pop up where he wants... Teams are struggling to handle his movement big time..if he can get a bit more assured on the ball, then he will really be cooking..

I know a few people want a proper number 9 in the summer but seeing how players like Havertz, Martinelli and Trossard play, having someone more fluid up there is always going to get them to perform a lot better.

daredevil

Doc

It's a different way of skinning a cat, but watching City yesterday with a fixed 9 and having their entire attack hinge on creating chances for him to score. An off day for Haaland, like it was yesterday, and their attack didn't have enough strings in its bow to offer a different threat.

I'm not against signing a 9, particularly someone who can upgrade on Nketiah, but for us to use one as our Plan A, it has to be someone worthwhile.

Qwiss

daredevil I'd rather have a real 9 than not. I was watching MotD last night and Given said he still thinks Arsenal need a 9 and Linekar responded with "21 goals in the last 5 though" which is all well and good but the season is 38 games, not 5. We've seen games where the attack lacked a focal point, we've seen games where we created loads but missed our chances like City yesterday. I'd love to get a striker who can win things in the air like Havertz but has a bit more consistency with his finishing and his touch.

TBF Trossard has been doing something none of our other strikers have managed this season and thats get in goal scoring positions regularly. He scored yesterday and he could have 4 or 5 and for me thats pretty normal for a striker. Like Haaland yesterday the main thing for him is he was constantly close to scoring, thats what you need from a top striker.

Don Pacifico

daredevil maybe it's more about having that option. When we're not clicking and the players are doing their goal-shy thang, having someone who can create their own chances and/or be lethal in front of goal is a useful option to have.

goon

Qwiss 21 goals in the last 5 though" which is all well and good but the season is 38 games, not 5.

We scored 88 in 38 games last year and are on coarse to match that. Goals are not really a problem.

I sort of agree with need something more for when we’re not playing well, the sort of inevitability that you get from Salah and KDB, but I don’t think that’s got anything to do with playing with a true 9.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

goon

Bro if you want to win a CL in those big semi-finals/finals then you need a proper number 9.

Qwiss

goon you are right it doesn't have to be a 9 but we didn't score as much as City last season and are at the stage where those margins matter. Since the winter break we've been in top form and it's great but before the winter break when it wasn't coming together we needed a more consistent goal scorer in the team. Seems to me the easiest way to get that is to upgrade our very inconsistent CF position rather than elsewhere.

I think our form since the break also adds to arguments around overpaying certain players and I think another CF would free up Jesus to allow Saka and the new CF to rest more often.

goon

People keep saying stuff like this as if it hasn’t been proven false countless times.

RowJimmy

For the most part people who insist we need a "true 9" are also people who want overlapping fullbacks.

Qwiss

RowJimmy maybe if they want an Alan Smith type but most people are talking about players like Osimhen and Toney who are thoroughly modern forwards that have a much wider skillset and can play in modern systems.

kamikaze

Well-rounded and intelligent player with athleticism and stature. He does a lot of stuff that coaches love but many casual spectators don't notice. The only thing he lacks in any notable way is composure in front of goal. If he had, say, Freddie's calmness and variety of finishing, we'd have a world class player.

lorddulaarsenal

kamikaze this may sound silly but the size of his feet hinders his finishing.

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