Arteta reveals how he solved Arsenal's biggest transfer problem

Tom Weber

Updated: 5 Oct 2024 16:20 BST
4 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Mikel Arteta has revealed how he unlocked Kai Havertz's potential as a No.9.

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The striker position is one that used to give Arsenal headaches. Indeed, the Gunners reportedly remain in the market for a new centre-forward, but it is no longer a pressing issue for Mikel Arteta and recruitment chief Edu.

In fact, after being rebuffed by RB Leipzig hotshot Benjamin Sesko in the summer, the north London giants were comfortable with heading into the new season without a new offensive recruit and they even sold third-choice striker Eddie Nketiah late in the window.

The reason why they were happy with their current No.9 options is because Arteta finally managed to unlock Kai Havertz, something Chelsea never achieved during his time at Stamford Bridge.

When Havertz, an attacking midfielder by trade, played as a centre-forward for the Blues, he looked awkward and ill-suited to the role. But this is no longer the case.

Arteta reveals his Havertz secret

Now, Havertz has, in many ways, become Arsenal's ideal No.9 given how Arteta wants his team to play. He is far from a traditional striker, but he is perhaps one of the most complete in the Premier League.

Havertz can lead the press, drop deep, combine, hold up the ball, run in behind and he has become a reliable source of goals. This means that, though Arsenal would still like to add another offensive body, they no longer require a prolific, big-name striker.

But how has this transformation of Havertz come about? Mikel Arteta has now provided the exceedingly simple answer: "Love. He’s a player that needs a lot of love. He needs to feel protected, he needs to feel chemistry around him.

"In football and in life he gives so much to everybody, so he needs that connection with the people. He got that from ourselves, and the moment he started to grow with our supporters I think that gave him a different dimension, different confidence."

He consistently scores now, "because he’s so good, because he wants it so much and because he’s surrounded by great players around him. The fact that he’s gone through some difficult moments just made him a better player, and a great person I think.

"He certainly has all the qualities and he certainly has the ambition to [score 20 goals a season]. In the end, scoring goals sometimes are very small details and a lot of things have to go for you, but he’s got it and his mindset has changed a lot in regards to that. He certainly has ability to do it in my opinion."