Mikel Arteta: Havertz Has Profile To Break Deep Blocks, That’s Why We Signed Him

By The Editor
on 26th November 2023

Mikel Arteta vindicates Havertz’s signing…

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hailed Kai Havertz’s special qualities after the summer signing netted the game’s winner off the bench in our 1-0 victory at Brentford.

Arteta’s side were struggling to break down a stubborn defence as Thomas Frank’s side sat deep in their 5-3-2 system, forcing us wide and inevitably losing possession.

The Spaniard decided to act midway through the second half and turned to his £65 million man, bringing on Havertz for Gabriel Martinelli and shifting Leandro Trossard out wide.

It meant that we now had the aerial presence to threaten the home side from our crosses, and Havertz’s ability to arrive in the box from his midfield role proved pivotal.

The German international drifted to the back post to nod home Bukayo Saka’s wonderful cross, something Arteta envisaged during his pursuit of the former Chelsea man.

“Yes, absolutely yes,” Arteta told the press when asked if Havertz’s aerial ability was another reason behind why he was brought in.

“Against this block, and against teams that defend the box like this, you need this type of profile, and he’s exceptional at that. Today he won the game in that action for us.”

Havertz is fresh off an international break where he was deployed as a left-back by Julian Nagelsmann, though that tactic left little to be desired with Germany losing both friendlies.

Having said that, Arteta pointed to the former Bayer Leverkusen star’s flexibility as a quality that highlights his ability as a player.

“Well first of all, it’s one of his qualities, because a player that can play in different positions needs a lot of qualities to be able to do that.

“He puts his head down and drives the team, and he needs to do that in any position that I ask of him,” the boss added.

Wherever he’s deployed, Havertz can certainly improve in terms of his intensity on the ball with fans crying for him to attempt to affect games in the final third.

Hopefully, after now getting off the mark from open play, he can kick-start his Gunners career.