Arsenal’s stunning 5-0 triumph over Chelsea was a historic moment for the club, showcasing their dominance on the field. Kai Havertz’s exceptional performance, including two goals, played a crucial role in securing this remarkable victory. It was also the most recent in a series of outstanding displays for Havertz, who is steadily demonstrating that Arsenal made a worthwhile investment in him last summer.
After three years at Stamford Bridge, it’s hard to gauge the impact Havertz has had on this club. He departed with an impressive record of 32 goals and 12 assists in 139 appearances. Significantly, the goal that secured victory in the 2021 Champions League final and the 2022 Club World Cup final. However, it is clear that Kai has not lived up to the high expectations set for him. It seems like they made quite an impression during their time at Bayer Leverkusen.
It came as a surprise to many when Arsenal placed a buy order. At first, the price tag was quite high, with the German international being valued at a staggering £65 million. It also piques the interest in the potential match. One aspect that caused some cоnfusiоn during the transfer was determining Havertz’s optimal position. His position on the field is somewhat ambiguous. Is he primarily a striker, considering that Chelsea has often utilized Kai in his time in west London? Or do you prefer the position that allowed you to excel in Germany?
It appeared that at that time, coach Arteta had plans for him to fill the void in the left side of midfield, left by Granit Xhaka. It’s clear that Havertz’s career in north London didn’t have the smoothest start. Playing on the left wing in a 3-midfield system, Havertz faced some challenges at the start of the season. He demonstrates strong performance, effectively applies pressure on the opponent without possession. However, his decision-making appears indecisive and uncertain when in possession. That’s why some people believe that Kai is still struggling to fit in at the Emirates.
In his initial 12 Premier League matches, he managed to find the back of the net only once. This solitary goal came from a penalty kιck during a remarkable 4-0 victory over Bournemouth, where his teammates graciously allowed Kai to take the shot. However, a victory over Brentford in November appeared to signal the beginning of Kai’s improved performance. He scored the winning goal in the 89th minute after being substituted. It seemed as though Kai’s first significant contribution to Arsenal was a promising indication of the potential he possesses. Kai Havertz managed to secure two additional crucial goals during victories against Luton and Brighton in December.
Nevertheless, the German was being deployed as a midfielder during that period. However, due to Gabriel Jesus’ knee ιnjury in early February, Havertz was cоmpelled to transition into the primary striker position. And there, he thrived.
In February, Havertz has been quite impressive in the Premier League, with 7 goals and 4 assists. Only Cole Palmer (16) and Ollie Watkins (13) have been involved in more goals during this time. Interestingly, all 11 goals have been scored in his most recent 10 appearances in the Premier League. In his time at Arsenal, Havertz managed to score 11 goals and provide 5 assists in a total of 33 appearances. Those statistics may not be particularly impressive, but they are quite respectable considering that the player spent 70 percent of his time on the field as a midfielder. Arsenal is well-known for distributing their goals evenly, although this season, only Bukayo Saka (23) has managed to score more for Arteta’s team.
Contrastingly, Arsenal appears significantly more threatening when Havertz takes charge of the аttаck instead of Jesus. The Brazilian’s performance in front of goal this season has been less than stellar. His goal tally in the Premier League stands at just 4. Based on the statistics, it is evident that Havertz is not as involved in ball possession as others, but he certainly makes the most of his opportunities. Despite having fewer opportunities to make plays and take shots, he has been incredibly accurate with his shots on goal and, most importantly, has successfully scored more goals.
In addition, Kai demonstrated a level of performance comparable to Jesus in terms of generating chances and reclaiming possession in the attacking zone. Jesus has received high praise for his valuable contributions, while Kai has demonstrated his growth as Arsenal’s primary striker, a position he previously struggled with during his time at Chelsea. With Kai’s impressive performance towards the end of the season, Arsenal has even more determination to keep up the pace with Man City.
Arsenal might be considering the addition of a striker during the upcoming summer transfer window. If a high-profile player is signed, Havertz’s current position may be at rιsk. However, the 24-year-old remаins unfazed by this, showcasing his exceptional football abilities and adaptability. Coach Arteta will eventually figure out how to utilize Kai.