Kai Havertz: Page 50 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Kai Havertz

daredevil

He is far better as a striker, and does his best work when he is narrowed into a channel and has to produce a bit of skill to progress play. Give him space and time and he ends up conviction-less. Follows well in the footsteps of Chamakh and Welbeck.

Coombs

Havertz is an elite utility player. Doesn't have to start every game, but can keep our level up even when the ideal choices are injured. The game just seems to organize itself around him, even when he isn't on the ball.
Probably isn't going to be what I'd hoped, but having him in the squad is like having an extra player to choose from if you're picking the team.

CPM

It's so crazy when you watch Leverkusen highlights, Havertz looks like a killer. You wonder whether we can get that out of him here eventually. He's still only 24, stranger things have happened...

Agree with Coombs, I don't want him to be nailed on to start next season, but he is a very useful card in the squad to be able to play. In physical contests, away matches in Europe, etc. A top side competing across multiple fronts needs depth and tactical versatility.

We did overpay for him, and he frustratingly only half-satisfies our two biggest needs at the moment – left-sided 8 and center forward – but he's a good and useful player.

banduan

bring him on for the false 9 position in big games. So far he's proven useful on that front on multiple occasions.

JazzG

Supposedly lost a lot of his duels but that doesn't always tell the full story. Went up against two giant CBs and gave them all sorts of issues.

Big Willie

JazzG lyrics going like "One day everybody gotta die" right when Kounate was getting the red card 😂

Mirth

JazzG Compare the touch Kai takes at 1.30 vs Trossard's touches for his goals. There's a few small things that you would hope the coaching staff work on him that would make him a much better player

lorddulaarsenal

JazzG you can lose a duel but make it difficult for the opposing centreback to clear effectively thus we latch on to the loose ball

JazzG

Mirth I think his touch is a bit inconsistent, at 1:40ish his control was sublime as that was not an easy ball to control.

I think he'll always have an awkward look to how he plays but clear that in big games up top he can make a difference. Top teams will press harder and better so having that long ball is vital, Liverpool got pinned back a few times because that long ball down the channels wasn't on for them due to no Salah or Nunez.

lorddulaarsenal

Comes across as a nice guy

flobaba

He seems to always get into the dangerous areas, but somehow always avoid actually finishing. Such a weird player. Was right in front of Gabriel and Saliba, and ducked under Trossard's volleyed effort.

Falsest 9 ever.

Big Willie

flobaba Was right in front of Gabriel and Saliba, and ducked under Trossard's volleyed effort.

Think Trossard must have given him a shout for the shot, so good play there tbh. But yeah, on the whole he didn't quite do enough on the ball for us today. I'm still watching the game, still a quarter of an hour left but not to nitpick on a game where everyone did well, he did end up looking off the pace. Though his contribution to the third goal was important.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

Think he was good today. Played like a ‘facilitator’ and re-cycled the ball well. Agree he does his best to not score though 😆

naz

Not worth 65 million but a good player. That's really it for me.
I'm just treating him like a 30 million signing

Coombs

naz don't think any signings can or should be treated based on their price. Every player is just a player.

I know it's impossible, but it would make everyone more sane and less angsty.

banduan

He was planted in midfield to contest the Hammers out balls. He wasn't actually a false nine this time round. That said when he does get into the box he really needs to attack the ball with a lot more gusto.

Panda

Say what you want about him but at least we can rely on him to be available.

He is a really solid, versatile, reliable option. I'm happy with him, his contributions must be net positive now. He will go on another little streak of scoring goals soon too 😎

Don Pacifico

Coombs I get what you're saying but when it's tied to allocation of finite resources, it's hard not to critique with that lens.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

Havertz being reliable and available (touch wood) is a huge assist though (similar to Xhaka).

est

Sicario2 - Tier 1 This is true. Having reliable players is so important.

Was thinking about Havertz during the West Ham game. The commentators were talking about how much Arteta has learned from Moyes and that's when it hit me- Moyes is using Soucek like he always used Fellaini during his Everton and United days. That's clearly his thing. And now one of Havertz's roles with us is clearly the role of a tall target man coming from deeper positions.

lorddulaarsenal

Love him. Fails to get credit because he makes things look simple.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

lorddulaarsenal

Apart from putting the ball in the back of the net.

He has grown on me but come on, in some situations he is an absolute pussy cat (and that’s putting it mildly!). Needs to man up and be a killer.

Pepe LeFrits

lorddulaarsenal Love him. Fails to get credit because he makes things look simple.

Some truth in this. If a ball gets pinged up to someone like Jesus and he holds onto it with some immaculate control and does a clever turn to shake off a marker who is trying to take off his shirt, it looks a lot better than when a ball bounces off Havertz's groin while he holds off the centre back with a long gangly arm, but the end result isn't hugely different.

Now I don't think he's pulling up trees but a lot of the criticism directed his way is also opportunity cost-related in nature. I think based on his performances alone, he's been a pretty useful squad member so far this season. Not near our top performers, but also not someone I'd be eager to replace at this point either. He's a very distinctive option who is always fit and there's plenty of value in that. Just wish he'd believe in himself more and take more responsibility for making things happen

« Previous Page Next Page »