Kai Havertz has had a terrible year as his club and country managers struggle to find the best playing position for him.
Havertz moved to Arsenal in a surprise transfer that did not excite the Gunners fanbase, and he has proven them right so far.
Mikel Arteta signed him to replace the departed Granit Xhaka, but Havertz has failed woefully in that position.
The German is also a problem for his national team, with Julian Nagelsmann recently starting him as a left-back.
That decision shows how desperate his managers are to make the most of his talent but how seemingly impossible it has been for them to achieve that.
Football fans were shocked to see Havertz playing as a left-back in the last international window and Germany legend Lothar Matthäus has slammed Nagelsmann for the decision.
He said to Sky Sports Germany:
“The coach might expect someone like Leverkusen’s Grimaldo to play on the left and right, but he was trained as a full-back. Havertz, Sane and Brandt are trained offensive players and will not play in these positions at their clubs for the next seven months.
“This also causes uncertainty among the other players. I know what Nagelsmann is planning, at FC Bayern Munich he preferred Alphonso Davies to the left and he now wants to turn Havertz into a Davies.
“I occasionally played defender for Jupp Heynckes. I never knew what to do because I had a completely different understanding of the game. If we have a DNA, a game system, why change it?”
Just Arsenal Opinion
As terrible as Havertz can be, playing him as a left-back is a new low, and it was a shocking decision that eventually backfired.
The attacker will hope he can end this year on a high by delivering some fine performances for Arsenal in the next month.
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At some stage, we all expect the big German returning to life in the theater.
Not happening mate
If William Saliba was able to move from playing as a number 10 to playing as number 5 /CB then Kai can also transition from playing as a attacking midfielder to play as CM/CDM or as a left back, attacking midfield sometimes doesn’t suit tall players.
Your ‘big German’ is just not good enough.
Not as an attacker nor as a CM/CDM.
If Germany decide to build a new team with younger crop of players most especially after the Euros, I don’t see Havertz as part of that team.
I seem to remember Saka playing at left back and making a very fine job of it. Having said that, the skill sets of Saka and Havertz are miles apart.
Football fans are quite ridiculous. Commenting on a sport that they never played or never understood. Kai Havertz playing LB is a testament of his qualities, not his weakness. Especially when he offered to play that position for his team. He was bought by Arteta to play that left no 8 role. What better practice and experience while playing at LB or LWB? Why footballers are being ridiculed for this, does not comprehend me. Bernardo Silva had played LB, DM, CM, AM, RW, LW and CF for Man City and he is the best footballer in England at the moment. Had been the best for 4-5 years now. Kai Havertz just moved to Arsenal for 4 months now and the snowflakes are wetting the streets. Get a life plz.