This international break will eventually end, and Arteta and the boys will return to action. When the league resumes, our team’s first task will be to travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Saturday. Arteta must make some tough calls for that game. One such call will be whether or not to start Kai Havertz.
Kai Havertz’s confidence should be growing; he scored in our 4-0 win over Bournemouth and assisted Gabriel Martinelli’s goal in our 1-0 win over defending champions Manchester City in the last two league games.
I believe that his contributions in the last two league games should have boosted his confidence, but starting against Chelsea may be wise for him to build on the momentum he is on. Aside from that, Arteta can start him and give him a chance to prove to Chelsea that they were wrong to let him go. Players who return to face teams where they previously played but were not successful tend to put in a good shift and excel.
Even if there are reasons that Havertz can shine against his former team, starting him has certain ramifications. How certain are we that he will be a success?
How certain are we that Chelsea fans will be kind to him? They may boo him every time he gets the ball and makes even the smallest mistake, which might affect his rising confidence.?
Aside from that, seeing Rice play box-to-box midfielder left us realizing how influential he can be in that role. Many of us would like to see him continue in that role.
In fact, it’s been suggested that the ex-West Ham star’s skill with the ball is obvious even when he’s not playing defensive midfielder. But Rice may revert to playing as a No. 6, but is that a tactical shift Arteta wants to make, forsaking the tactical approach he used against Manchester City that laid the groundwork for our first league win over the Citizens since 2015?
Overall, it will be intriguing to see what Arteta decides about Kai Havertz on Saturday. Do you think he should start the game?
Darren N
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NO
Havertz can be useful in the game and be in the line up if BSaka is yet to recover. In that case he will play as false 9 while Jesus plays in Saka’s role. I would prefer Havertz to Nketia who in my opinion has not been clinical this term. If Saka plays then Havertz should be on the bench he can come in as substitutes 20minutes to match ending.
Matinelli. Jesus Saka
Rice. Pathey. Odegard
Tomiyasu. Gabriel. Saliba. White
Raya
Well said, Sylva 👍
No. Simple as that! Why would any manager play a player who is not as good as his team mates!!
You might want to rethink this one. Going on this logic, a manager would only play ONE player rather than eleven!
Great point and I bow to your logical thinking. You are in fact CORRECT!
I phrased it clumsily and SHOULD HAVE SAID ” not as good as ANY of his team mates”!
Jon, unfortunately Arteta doesn’t appear to agree with your summation, because he has invested so much in bringing Havertz to Arsenal.
YES Ozzie, Clearly he does not agree with with me nor with almost all Gooners on JA.
To be fair Ozziegunner, Havertz has not been starting matches lately. He’s been coming off the bench and has played a part whenever he’s come on, including the assist against City.
But he has been playing every game, though he’s not as good as his team mates!!!. I won’t be surprised if he’s selected in the lineup against his former team. The gaffer knows the best. Which ever players are selected I’m confident they can do the job at Stanford Bridge.
not a starter if Partey, Rice and Odegaard fit to start – this week anyway
but as shown against Man C can have an important role to play off the bench
Maybe not to start depending on whether Saka is fit to start, but surely he has to play some part at the Bridge, it could be exactly what the doctor ordered returning the big German back to life.
Harvetz is sub-standard period
NEVER. HE’S first of all a passenger. Not really shown anything serious for 9 games except an assist. Even not fit, Partey will still be better. Partey’s winning trend is up there. Right now, he doesn’t have a replacement; Not even Rice who has his own appreciable ways but doesn’t move the ball fast forward as Partey
I think it is time to be controversial again. I just cannot talk about Havertz any more, so I will turn to a possible replacement for him!
If I were Arteta, I would try to Buy Kalvin Phillips from City in the January Window.
I must admit I am not the greatest fan of Southgate, but I do agree with him that Phillips is the ideal partner for Rice in midfield.
There will still be lots of games from January to the end of the season, and we will need a replacement for Partey.
Phillips is not match fit yet, and I believe when he reaches that stage he could really strengthen our midfield.
I will sit and wait to see if Admin Pat deletes my entry again!
Players always score against their old clubs, so it’s a “Yes” from me. I’m not ready to write him off yet. He’s been improving & could still make it.
Since the coach wants him in everyone of Arsenal’s games, even at the expense of better players, I think he can throw him in, in the second half.
He gives an impression of someone working hard when everyone is beginning to tire, but still never tugs the ball in the net even with the goal mouth wide open.
If we are to play a high-intensity pressing high up the pitch game then no I would not start with Havertz. Also if Saka is back available then no I would not go with Havertz. But I would put Havertz ahead of Nketiah right now. He gives us something different, something to bounce off
Havertz has one goal and one assist he got lately so hopefully his confidence is on the rise
Unfortunately you are not, it MA. He sees things differently, hope he’s right at the end of the day but trust me I feel he made a great mistake with the signing of KH, but we’ll see.
Havertz currently should not be in any Arsenal starting line ups when Rice, Partey and Ødegaard are fit, unless for less important cup games
He’s not even making Germany line up. I think that says it all, but MA will not concede or admit to have made a great blunder bringing the guy for such amount and sell Balogun for such. We’ll understand more at the end of the season though.
If we want to lose the match then, start Harvertz. Recent performances have proven that he does better from the bench. If it’s possible, play similar formation we used against Manc. That means, Partey starts ahead of Jorginho