Chris Sutton reckons that Mikel Arteta is misusing Kai Havertz when deploying the German in the attacking role for Arsenal.
Havertz’s signing by Arsenal in the summer was somewhat surprising, given his less-than-spectacular spell at Chelsea. Despite scoring in the 2021 Champions League final, the German’s overall performance has not lived up to expectations.
Many Arsenal fans did not anticipate much from Havertz, but Arteta insisted there was a specific role for him at the Emirates. However, the German’s performances have not been impressive, which Sutton attributes to Arteta’s utilisation of him in the attacking position.
Sutton said, as quoted by the Daily Mail:
‘But I don’t think that Mikel Arteta picking Kai Havertz as a central striker or a false nine is doing any good for the Arsenal team, and I don’t think he’s doing any good for Kai Havertz.
‘I think psychologically, when he knows he is playing as a central striker, he looks like he is shackled. He looks like the weight of the shirt is too great for him. He looks like he dithers and delays, just as he did on a couple of occasions in the first half. ‘
Just Arsenal Opinion
Havertz has disappointed most of us like we expected him to do but the German still has the backing of his manager, so he can still turn things around for himself.
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Honestly I think Nagelsmann is up to something playing Havertz at left back.
Surely he won’t perform worse than Zinchenko
It would not be a bad idea to try him as a GK for the match against the Bees as he remains the gaffer’s pet and has to play. If that could help hurt Ramsdale more as the gaffer has something against him. Win win for the Kai & gaffer, lose lose for the rest.
What happened to arsenal’s interest in BENJAMIN SESKO,, he’s prolific and fast, still young for future investment and affordable as considered
Arteta is only backing Havertz because he wasted £65million of the team’s money on him. This is him trying to redeem himself, it’s not even for the player, nor is it for the team that’s been suffering trying to carry him through games.
What the Spaniard does not realise is that, it’s a “double jeopardy” scenario, wherein he overpaid on an undesirable candidate, and is now causing immense damage to team’s morale, losing games Arsenal would not be expected to lose. What a costly price for a young, inexperienced and headstrong novice !
Arteta is doing the same with Kai as he did with Willian. Why? I guess because he is stubborn and won’t admit to being wrong.
Like with Willian this is going to cost us points.
Unlike Willian, I don’t see Kai tearing up a contract and walking away.
How did he get such a high salary though. This has Salheni (spelling I could care less about) written all over, only he is no longer here…….
The Liverpool manager named Havertz as their biggest Threat after the match. He had 5 opportunities to score but dithered to long on the ball before pulling the trigger. His instincts to be in the right place to score is there, having 5 opportunities, which is very good for a natural striker. Arteta needs to get Havertz to practice his shooting under pressure without having to first take a first touch, which is creating his miss opportunities. You have to blame the poor coaching on the training field and question Arteta for not seeing this flaw in Havertz play.
Needs to pull the trigger early instead of first touch dithering. A cattle prod during trading sessions might help in his slow decision making in front of goal.
One of those that gives out an electric shock? What a good idea
The big problem with signing Havertz and Reya in the summer is Arsenal arguably didn’t need either of them but spent £95m on the pair. £95m that now can’t be spent on a striker. I know many fans seem to work on the basis clubs have an unlimited supply of money but they don’t.