Kai Havertz's midfield experiment is OVER - Arteta

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 7 Apr 2024 20:00 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hinted that Kai Havertz will not return to a midfield role amid his goal-scoring form as a number nine.

The Germany international joined the Gunners for €75 million from Chelsea last year and he was initially deployed as Granit Xhaka’s replacement in a left-sided number eight position.

Havertz, 24, was a reliable performer in this role, but he was far from value-for-money at the time.

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However, he has played as a centre-forward in Arsenal’s past six matches and no player has more than his nine Premier League goal involvements since 17 February.

Havertz was on the scoresheet yet again during Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday and he provided the assist for Leandro Trossard’s x goal of the season.

While Arteta initially intended to play Havertz in midfield, the Spaniard has now conceded that his future may lie as a striker.

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What has Mikel Arteta said?

Following Havertz’s impressive performance against Brighton, Arteta was asked whether he must remain as Arsenal’s number nine. “Yes,” he replied. “A lot of times the players decide where they have to play. You can have certain ideas but then you see certain relationships and it flows. When it flows you have to let it go.

“That’s what is happening with Kai at the moment, and he feels really comfortable there. The team is really comfortable with him there and the rest has happened naturally.

“He’s certainly having a huge impact on the team. His overall performances have been really good and now his numbers for goal contributions are really high.

“He needs to maintain that. I think his understanding with the attacking players was superb. I think they had real purpose and connection and a lot of clarity on where to attack and we created many chances.

“He has some fantastic players around him and we have tried to create the right environment for him, which I think is very important for any player, that they feel confident and we hopefully give him the love he needs.

“He has the admiration of the rest of the players and staff at the club and now the supporters of our club, for sure.”

Havertz is expected to start through the middle in Arsenal’s crucial Champions League quarter-final clash against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.