After making a serious push for the Premier League title last season, Arsenal was eager to make some bold moves during the summer transfer window to help the Gunners get to the top.
Signing Declan Rice was an obvious and ambitious move. But the signing of former Chelsea midfielder and German international Kai Havertz raised a few eyebrows.
While fans were excited to steal a high-priced player from the Blues, there were some questions about why the club wanted to sign Havertz.
Critics speculated that Arsenal’s move for Kai Havertz might be influenced by their partnership with DraftKings sportsbook, as the club aimed to attract more attention from fans and bettors alike.
By bringing in a player with Havertz’s reputation, Arsenal aimed to create buzz and engage with a wider audience, leveraging the marketing potential of their collaboration with DraftKings to enhance their competitive edge in the Premier League.
Havertz certainly had mixed reviews during his time at Chelsea. He scored game-winning goals in both the 2021 Champions League Final and the 2022 Club World Cup final.
However, in his 139 appearances with the Blues, he managed a modest 32 goals and 12 assists. Havertz was considered among the best young players in the world when he moved from Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea in 2020. But he never made the leap to becoming an elite player the way many expected from him.
If Havertz had met expectations, Chelsea wouldn’t have been willing to sell him to a rival when the Blues overhauled their squad this past summer.
That begs the question of why Arsenal would want a Chelsea castaway and why the Gunners think Havertz can suddenly become a difference-maker.
Well, the obvious answer is that Havertz only turned 24 in June. He’s far past his expiration date and is still young enough to fulfill his promise.
With the way Mikel Arteta has been able to mold Arsenal’s young squad during his tenure in North London, the Gunners surely feel that Arteta can help to get the most out of Havertz.
The other big reason why the Gunners were so keen to acquire Havertz this summer is his versatility. Between his time with Chelsea and the German National Team, Havertz has played in an attacking midfield role and as a forward who plays further up the pitch.
Early in his time at Arsenal, Arteta has also used Havertz as part of a three-man midfield. The ability to play multiple positions surely makes Havertz a valuable chess piece for Arteta, who can deploy him in different roles based on his tactics and needs.
Kai Havertz’s style of play
Havertz is a highly skilled attacking midfielder who can use both feet and head comfortably.
He has been compared to Thomas Müller due to their ability to find space in crowded areas and make smart runs. However, Havertz is often seen as a more graceful and talented player than Müller.
In one interview, Havertz stated that he favors the false nine position, which he has played during his time at Chelsea.
“Kai is a player of top quality,” Arteta said of Havertz when the club announced his signing. ”He has great versatility and is an intelligent player. He will bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield and variety to our play.”
What he brings to Arsenal
There should be no doubt that the addition of Havertz makes the Arsenal squad stronger and deeper overall. Arteta and the Gunners know that Manchester City has set a high bar and overcoming Pep Guardiola’s team for the Premier League title won’t be easy.
Man City has consistently had deep and talented squads that have allowed Guardiola to create competition and keep players fresh, allowing the team to thrive throughout the entire season and avoid extended periods where they struggle to get results.
In a way, the signing of Havertz is a step forward for Arsenal being able to replicate the type of squad Man City possesses. As mentioned, Havertz can play multiple positions, so he provides depth and competition at multiple spots.
Also, he has shown a propensity for scoring goals in big games. If the Gunners are going to contend with Man City, they will have to be able to get results from high-pressure matches against quality teams. That’s where Havertz’s track record for scoring goals in huge matches can come in handy.
Obviously, Arsenal’s move for Havertz this summer was not universally lauded after his subpar 2022-23 campaign at Chelsea.
However, given his age, versatility, talent, and knack for scoring big goals, it makes all the sense in the world for the Gunners to sign him. But whether or not Havertz is what puts Arsenal over the top is another question.
