Kai Havertz is about to move from Chelsea to Arsenal FC: Perfect place for a fresh start

There was a time when Chelsea fans were besotted with Kai Havertz. They even dedicated their own song to the German in good English singing tradition.

Set to the tune of Belinda Carlisle’s ’80s classic

Blues supporters celebrated Havertz for his goal in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City.

Whether in the stadium, in the pub or in the subway shafts – at every opportunity there was a collective smashing.

“Oh Roman (Chelsea’s ex-owner Roman Abramovich), do you know what that’s worth? Kai Havertz is the best in the world! The silky smooth German is exactly what we need – he won Chelsea the Champions League.”

Havertz specialist in missing big chances

Havertz gave Chelsea the most important title in European club football out of nowhere. Six months earlier, club icon Frank Lampard had been fired as coach, before Thomas Tuchel formed the best team in Europe from a completely insecure squad within six months.

But not much has come from Kai Havertz since that day in May 2021. In February 2022 he shot Chelsea to the title at the Club World Cup, the rest is manageable. The hustle and bustle of the past year and a half at the club, with changes of ownership and constant coaching, has also had a negative impact on his performance.

In the past season he made 35 Premier League games, most of them as number 9 in the center of attack. He was forced to bear the brunt of scoring goals in a haphazardly bought-up, structureless team. Havertz was more conspicuous by missing big chances (14 out of 18) than by his accuracy. Only seven goals were in the books at the end of the season.

Whether Lampard, Tuchel, Graham Potter or, in the end, Lampard again – in three years at Chelsea no coach has managed to find the right position for Havertz on a permanent basis. Ex-Chelsea professional Andy Townsend said in an interview with “talkSPORT” that Havertz is a “highly talented but very enigmatic player” who “many still don’t quite understand”.

Move to Arsenal win-win situation for Havertz

From Havertz’s perspective, it’s a win-win situation. The 24-year-old is leaving a club that needs to find itself again after a disaster season. Chelsea are absent from international competition next season, while Arsenal return to the Champions League as runners-up.

Havertz feels comfortable in London, he just has to change districts. In the north of the metropolis, he will be part of an exciting project that Arteta launched at the end of 2019 and since then has gradually led the Gunners back into the phalanx of top clubs in the Premier League.

At Arsenal, Havertz will in all likelihood be released from his unloved position in the middle of the attack. Arteta appreciates his versatility and primarily has two roles in mind for Havertz.

As a mixture of ten and “wrong” nine, Havertz can best perform his outstanding ability to get through the half-spaces into the penalty area from a lower position with speed. He’s fast, feels comfortable in high positions and has good timing to get into the penalty area at the right moment,” said Tuchel about Havertz when they shared Chelsea.

At Arsenal, Havertz could take over the position behind regular leader Gabriel Jesus in a 4-2-3-1. Arsenal played the first third of last season in this system, before Arteta switched to 4-3-3 and only sporadically – like in the win against Manchester United in February – returned to 4-2-3-1.

Exciting role as left eighth in Arsenal midfield

In Arteta’s preferred 4-3-3, Havertz could play an exciting role as a left eight. When in possession, the Gunners play more of a 2-3-5, in which the left-back, Oleksandr Zinchenko or Kieran Tierney, moves into midfield and the eight then advances into the half-space.

Havertz would have the freedom to intervene in midfield attacks and penetrate late into the penalty area – where he feels most comfortable. In an interview with The Athletic in 2021, he soberly described himself as a “midfielder who likes to go into the penalty area”.

In that role, Havertz could replace Granit Xhaka, who is set to move to Bayer Leverkusen. So far, negotiations between Arsenal and Bayer have been tough, but this should change abruptly with Havertz’s upcoming commitment.

Havertz can play deeper on the eight and thus bring in a creative side that is often overlooked: last season he fired the most shots from the game with his strong left foot (54).

Tuchel certifies Havertz’s willingness to “suffer”

The question remains whether Havertz is able to fill out the defensive part that this position entails and that made Xhaka indispensable last season.

His willingness to work hard against the ball was once confirmed by Tuchel at Chelsea. “He is also very strong in counter-pressing and is not above making a lot of runs to win the ball back,” said Tuchel.

Kai Havertz and Arsenal FC – that doesn’t just sound promising at first glance. The international can take the next important step forward with the Gunners after a two-year hiatus at Chelsea.

He is likely to put off his admirers from the past by switching to his city rivals. But maybe he is exactly the player that Arsenal FC needs.