The enigmatic German could not be pigeon-holed into one role at Stamford Bridge – which the Gunners boss clearly sees as an opportunity
Chelsea's list of marquee signings over the past two decades is almost endless, but few generated the same level of excitement among the club's fanbase as Kai Havertz. The Blues fought off competition from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to sign the forward for £72 million in 2020, and he was backed to make a huge impact in the Premier League.
"He is the next big, big player to come from Germany," Havertz's Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Roberto Hilbert said just before his exit. "He has some things [Michael] Ballack had, some things [Mesut] Ozil had, but he puts it into one package, which makes him so dangerous. I think he has a level of talent that nobody else has."
The 21-year-old was even being billed as a future Ballon d'Or winner in some circles, but it wasn't immediately clear how he would figure into Frank Lampard's plans. "I’ve loved him for a long time as a player. His style is very unique," the then-Chelsea manager said of Havertz at his unveiling.
The Germany international showed flashes of brilliance in his first few months at Stamford Bridge, but he couldn't prevent Chelsea from falling way off the pace in the Premier League. Lampard was sacked in January 2021, just five months after Havertz's arrival, with former Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel drafted in as his replacement.
The Blues instantly improved under Tuchel, and finished the season with an unlikely Champions League crown as Havertz scored the winning goal in the final against Manchester City, showing great composure to finish after being played through by Mason Mount, and a new Chelsea hero was born.
Unfortunately, that's as good as it ever got for Havertz in west London. He is destined to leave Chelsea with a modest total of 32 goals to his name from 139 appearances, with Arsenal having sealed a £65m transfer for the languid German.
Lampard, Tuchel and Graham Potter all failed to bring the best out of Havertz, who struggled for consistency in a variety of different systems. But Mikel Arteta believes he can succeed where they failed.
So how exactly will he fit in at Arsenal? GOAL takes a look…
Getty ImagesThe German 'hybrid'
Tuchel was clear on what Havertz would bring his team after joining his compatriot at Chelsea in 2021. “He is very comfortable in high positions, he is very good in offensive headers, he has good timing to arrive in the box, good finishing, good composure in the box,” he told reporters.
But there was a caveat, as he added: “Does he need to settle on one special position? Or is he kind of a hybrid?” Two years on, we still don't have a definitive answer to that question.
Havertz is part-striker, part-attacking midfielder, capable of operating on either flank and through the middle due to his impressive ability with both feet. As a result, he has rarely been out of Chelsea's starting line up – despite his underwhelming output in the final third.
The 2022-23 campaign was a hugely disappointing one for the former Leverkusen starlet, as he averaged just 0.23 goals per game and missed 14 of the 18 'big chances' that came his way in the Premier League. Havertz was often used as a No.9, and he cut an isolated figure with no one reliable enough to play off him.
It was certainly no coincidence that Chelsea posted their worst-ever goals total for a top-flight season, with just 38 scored across their 38 fixtures. But Havertz is still very capable of adding a new dimension to Arsenal's attack.
The Gunners had no problems finding the net during their tilt at the title last season, with Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli backed up by the creative qualities of Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka. They have far greater firepower than Chelsea, and there are a number of different ways Arteta could throw Havertz into the mix and utilise his versatility to maximum effect.
AdvertisementGettyArsenal's new Van Persie?
“He reminds me sometimes, a little, of Robin with his back to goal the way he can hold the ball," Arsenal legend Thierry Henry told when quizzed on what Havertz could offer Arteta's team. "Robin van Persie was very good with his left foot, the touch was always immaculate and he tried to bring people along.
"This is why out of the guys that used to be wingers or No.10, he plays as a nine because with his back to goal he can hold the ball well. Now he needs to make sure he can transform that into more goals because you can play off him.”
Tuchel also likened Havertz to Van Persie during his time at Chelsea, and Arsenal supporters will certainly hope that he can emulate the flying Dutchman, who scored 132 goals in 278 games for the club. Van Persie started out as a traditional centre-forward, but Arsene Wenger moved him into a 'false nine' position as he matured.
Van Persie wasn't just a supreme goalscorer, but he was also a great link-up player. It's entirely possible that Arteta sees Havertz making a similar contribution, either alongside Jesus or ahead of him.
Havertz has the balance, skill and footballing intelligence necessary to cause plenty of damage while operating between the lines and bringing others into play. He'll have no problem with pressing the opposition high up the pitch at Arsenal, having always been a very hard worker out of possession, but he can also potentially bring greater flexibility and ingenuity to their forward line.
Getty ImagesPossible Xhaka replacement?
Before his switch to Chelsea in 2020, Havertz revealed his preferred position in an interview with Spanish newspaper . "I would say the No.8 position, inside right," he said. "I'm not a classic No.10, but I like to have the ball at my feet, simply enjoying myself on the pitch."
Odegaard currently fills that spot for Arsenal, and that's not going to change anytime soon. The Norwegian was one of the best players in the Premier League last season, and he's the man Arteta has chosen as his captain.
Havertz might prefer the right, but he'd also have no trouble playing on the left side of midfield in Arteta's 4-3-3 set-up. He'll have big shoes to fill, with Granit Xhaka set to leave on the back of his best campaign in an Arsenal shirt – ironically for Havertz's former club, Leverkusen.
The German playmaker won't offer as much to Arsenal defensively as Xhaka, but he would be primed to make late runs into the box and pick up possession more often in half spaces. Havertz recorded 54 open-play shot-creating actions last season, more than any other Chelsea player – which highlights how inventive he can be.
His movement off the ball is also excellent. When asked to assess Havertz's game in an interview with in 2020, former Leverkusen boss Tayfun Korkut said: "He moves fantastically between the lines. He knows exactly where to stand. He sees the spaces where he needs to be. When the space begins to close, he moves to the next space. So, he not only controls the ball, he controls the space. That is why he is always in the right position."
Havertz is elusive, physically strong and a masterful technician, which makes him a perfect option for Arsenal in a deeper role. Arsenal aren't paying £65m for the player Havertz has been for three years at Chelsea – they're making that investment in the player Arteta thinks Havertz can become in his system.
Getty ImagesNo.10 or a winger
Havertz shouldered the main attacking burden at Chelsea after Romelu Lukaku's return to Inter on loan last summer, despite a stern warning from Arsenal legend Paul Merson. “Kai Havertz is a No.10 for me. Not a centre-forward. I look at him as a Dennis Bergkamp kind of player,” Merson wrote in his column for the .
“He doesn’t need the ball with his back to goal. He’s too good for that. He needs the ball facing towards goal and he will make things happen." Merson was proven right as the goals dried up for Chelsea and Havertz struggled to make any meaningful impact.
But it's safe to say that the Gunners won't make the same mistake after luring Havertz away from their London rivals. He could prove to be the perfect foil for Jesus upfront, just as Bergkamp was for Henry in his prime.
Havertz can make the sublime look effortless in the same way Bergkamp did, as he boasts the same exquisite first touch, weight of pass and coolness in front of goal. Arteta would have to experiment with a different formation to pair Havertz and Jesus together, but the rewards could be huge.
Jesus is a whirlwind of frenetic energy, and would surely get behind defences at will with Havertz providing expert service in behind. There is one other possible role Havertz could occupy, though.
Saka was outstanding for Arsenal in 2022-23, but it could be argued that he suffered from burnout towards the end of the campaign. Havertz's presence would give Arteta the option to rest Saka at certain points, and he could be equally as dangerous as the England man on the right wing.
The Germany star is equally as comfortable coming inside on his left foot as he is running down the line on his right, and more often than not, he makes the right decisions when he gets into space in advanced areas. Dropping Saka outright would make no sense, but Havertz will be able to fill in if needed and provide a different kind of threat.