GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - JUNE 20: Kai Havertz of Germany controls the ball during the international friendly match between Germany and Colombia at Veltins-Arena on June 20, 2023 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Frederic Scheidemann/Getty Images)
3 tactical reasons that justify the Kai Havertz risk
by Adam Keys
3. Runs into the box
Last season, Kai Havertz made 334 off-ball runs into the opposition penalty area in the Premier League – the second most of any player after Erling Haaland (349).
With Jesus dropping deep to receive, having a player like Havertz who can flick on and lay off the ball, but also run into the box, gives Arsenal the ability to push and pull defences in a way they couldn’t last season.
Kai Havertz for Chelsea in the 2022/23 Premier League:
◉ Most goals
◉ Most shots on target
◉ Most chances created
◉ Most aerial duels won
◉ Most possession won final ⅓
◉ Most final ⅓ passes
◉ Most duels won
◉ Most flick-ons
◉ Most lay-offsDid it all. 🥵 pic.twitter.com/jTi0lRSDx0
— Squawka (@Squawka) June 21, 2023
These runs led to Havertz finishing the season with the most goals for Chelsea, most shots on target and most chances created; which perhaps tells you how bad the environment at the club was given he finished with seven goals and one assist.
While his position isn’t distinct, it is clear that he has all the ingredients, including pace, to mould him into a top player, and bring out that phenomenal Leverkusen youngster.
This is a high-risk, high-reward signing, and one that could be huge if Arteta can unlock his magic abilities, and is hopefully just the start of a big summer.
#AFC</a></p>
<p>◉ £60m guaranteed fee;</p>
<p>◉ £5m add-ons;</p>
<p>◉ Long term deal agreed;</p>
<p>◉ Medical tests to be scheduled.</p>
<p>Havertz will sign the contract this week, documents are being prepared. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://t.co/ZatVvO7dRF">pic.twitter.com/ZatVvO7dRF
<p>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1671489895682940930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>June 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>1. Technical ability</strong></h2>
<p>Havertz is a player who floats around the pitch, linking play and advancing into the box to disrupt and intrude; qualities that cause havoc in the right system.</p>
<p>At Chelsea, he was used predominantly as a target man last season with huge distances between him and his teammates, which nullified many of his unique qualities.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">£50+15m for Kai Havertz is not a bad deal for a 24 year old, who cost £90m three years ago. At his best at Leverkusen and Chelsea, he played in systems with high lines, intricate build ups, and close proximity to teammates i.e. the <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Arsenal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#Arsenal</a> way. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/AFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#AFC</a><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://t.co/8GmvqieuML">pic.twitter.com/8GmvqieuML
<p>— Adam Keys (@adamkeys_) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://twitter.com/adamkeys_/status/1671477424024870912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>June 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>By contrast, Arsenal play with their technicians in close proximity to each other, which would reduce the length of time Havertz would need on the ball and allow him to utilise his big frame to pass and move before bursting into the box.</p>
<p>On the ball, Havertz is a player who can hold up play, and last season had the most layoffs and flick-ons for Chelsea. With players closer to him at Arsenal, he could really shine with those skills.</p>
<p><em>Continued to next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 Height </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135131" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1706,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1258023146-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1706" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1258023146-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1258023146-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1258023146-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1258023146-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"></p>
<h2><strong>2. Height</strong></h2>
<p>The Arsenal front four are not the tallest, and in some games, the lack of height has been an issue, especially when it comes to a plan B.</p>
<p>Havertz stands at 6’4, and ten of his 32 Premier League goals came with his head, giving Arsenal a different option in the middle, with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard having a kind of target man to aim for.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">£50+15m for Kai Havertz is not a bad deal for a 24 year old, who cost £90m three years ago. At his best at Leverkusen and Chelsea, he played in systems with high lines, intricate build ups, and close proximity to teammates i.e. the <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Arsenal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#Arsenal</a> way. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/AFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#AFC</a><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://t.co/8GmvqieuML">pic.twitter.com/8GmvqieuML
<p>— Adam Keys (@adamkeys_) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://twitter.com/adamkeys_/status/1671477424024870912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>June 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>At Chelsea, he also won the most aerial duels last season, which again gives Arsenal a hold-up option to sit alongside Jesus and Saka, who has surprisingly good aerial ability (but, <a title="3 reasons why Bukayo Saka is the best RW in the world" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-reasons-bukayo-saka-best-rw-world/" rel="">he is the best in the world in his position</a>, so that’s not a surprise).</p>
<p>Much like his flick-ons and layoffs, this threat becomes even more potent with players in close proximity and is something that players like Odegaard can really thrive off.</p>
<p><em>Continued to next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 Runs into the box </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135130" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1706,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1483131181-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1706" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1483131181-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1483131181-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1483131181-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1483131181-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"></p>
<h2><strong>3. Runs into the box</strong></h2>
<p>Last season, Kai Havertz made <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1670371411490217984">334 off-ball runs</a> into the opposition penalty area in the Premier League – the second most of any player after Erling Haaland (349).</p>
<p>With Jesus dropping deep to receive, having a player like Havertz who can flick on and lay off the ball, but also run into the box, gives Arsenal the ability to push and pull defences in a way they couldn’t last season.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kai Havertz for Chelsea in the 2022/23 Premier League:</p>
<p>◉ Most goals<br>
◉ Most shots on target<br>
◉ Most chances created<br>
◉ Most aerial duels won<br>
◉ Most possession won final ⅓<br>
◉ Most final ⅓ passes<br>
◉ Most duels won<br>
◉ Most flick-ons<br>
◉ Most lay-offs</p>
<p>Did it all. 🥵 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://t.co/jTi0lRSDx0">pic.twitter.com/jTi0lRSDx0
<p>— Squawka (@Squawka) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://twitter.com/Squawka/status/1671497932774801410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>June 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>These runs led to Havertz finishing the season with the most goals for Chelsea, most shots on target and most chances created; which perhaps tells you how bad the environment at the club was given he finished with seven goals and one assist.</p>
<p>While his position isn’t distinct, it is clear that he has all the ingredients, including pace, to mould him into a top player, and bring out that phenomenal Leverkusen youngster.</p>
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<p>This is a high-risk, high-reward signing, and one that could be huge if Arteta can unlock his magic abilities, and is hopefully just the start of a <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-tactical-reasons-justify-kai-havertz-risk/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/arsenal-business-summer-declan-rice-kai-havertz-transfer-window/">big summer</a>.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
