How Arsenal could line up with Kai Havertz
By Sean Walsh
In one of the summer window's more puzzling transfers, Kai Havertz is heading to Arsenal.
The Gunners have agreed a fee with Chelsea to sign the Germany international, who will undergo a medical in the coming days ahead of his move from west London to north London.
It's a transaction from Arsenal that is baffling a lot of people, but there may be some method behind the madness.
Here's how Mikel Arteta could use Havertz.
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Havertz as a striker
Havertz arrived at Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen as a second-striker or number ten, though he spent much of his time at Stamford Bridge playing as a centre forward.
He's hardly been a natural as a number nine - a return of 32 goals in 139 games for the Blues more than backs this up - but the 24-year-old is heading to an Arsenal side which doesn't necessarily rely on their striker to find the net as much.
Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli finished with 15 goals apiece across all competitions during the 2022/23 season. Starting centre forward Gabriel Jesus managed 11 despite a mid-season injury.
Havertz would be able to slot in as a selfless striker, while there have been suggestions that Jesus could return to the wing as he did with Manchester City in the long-term.
Potential lineups:
Saka - Odegaard - Martinelli - Havertz (4-2-3-1)
Saka - Odegaard - Jesus - Havertz (4-2-3-1)
Saka - Havertz - Martinelli (4-3-3)
Havertz as a number 10
The trouble with Havertz reverting to the number 10 role is that's the same position club captain Odegaard plays.
However, Arsenal fans on social media have quickly come to the thought that Arteta may attempt to replicate Pep Guardiola's 3-2-4-1 formation at Man City, with Havertz essentially replacing Granit Xhaka in the starting lineup and being a more natural fit higher up the pitch.
Even if Arteta uses a regular 4-2-3-1 formation, then Havertz would at least be a similar stylistic backup to Odegaard.
Potential lineups:
Saka - Odegaard - Havertz - Martinelli - Jesus (3-2-4-1)
Saka - Havertz - Martinelli - Jesus (4-2-3-1)
Havertz as a central midfielder
If your eyes are baulking and bulging, believe me, mine are as well.
But let's rationalise any decision Arteta may take to play Havertz a little deeper. We've seen from the German's time in England that he's clearly not a dominant striker and he goes missing a lot when played in the hole.
What if the solution all along was to get Havertz into positions where he had to get on the ball? What if his technical wizardry is easier to see in a possession-based team that is still on the up?
Look, I'm not saying I necessarily believe it myself, but I'm making a case here.
Potential lineups:
Partey - Odegaard - Havertz (4-3-3)
Rice* - Odegaard - Havertz (4-3-3)
Jorginho - Rice* - Havertz (4-3-3)
*in the event that Rice signs for Arsenal
Havertz as a winger
This is an unlikely option considering Bukayo Saka's place in the lineup is secure and he plays roughly 100 games a season, but there could still be times where Havertz starts on the wing and comes infield.
Left-footed right-wingers are a hot commodity, so it would help Arsenal if they could actually add another player with such a profile to their ranks.
Potential lineups:
Havertz - Jesus - Martinelli (4-3-3)
Havertz - Odegaard - Martinelli - Jesus (4-2-3-1)
LISTEN NOW
On this edition of The Chronicles of a Gooner, part of the 90min podcast network, Harry Symeou is joined by Lee Judges & Dan Potts to discuss Arsenal's second rejected bid for Declan Rice, reports on Romeo Lavia, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and more. If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!