Havertz makes honest admission over new Arsenal role following Arteta rant
Kai Havertz has insisted he is relishing his new role as a No.8 at Arsenal following his transfer from Chelsea.
The Germany international, 24, became the Gunners' first summer signing last month after swapping Stamford Bridge for the Emirates in a deal worth around £65million.
Havertz was used in a variety of forward roles at the Blues, often playing as a No.9 or a No.10, but failed to truly nail down a position. It is believed that Mikel Arteta has designs on utilising Havertz in a slightly deeper position as part of a revamped three-man midfield alongside club captain Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.
And despite scepticism from some fans, it appears that Havertz is more than happy with that plan. Speaking to ESPN, he said: "I really enjoy it, to play that position [as a No. 8]. I am more on the ball, more integrated in the game. I am really enjoying it. I think I have a lot of room to improve in the games, I am still adapting to the game and everything. So far it is working quite well.
"I think [goals are] important for my position, and also with my height. I want to score goals. It's part of my game. I always have to arrive there. Hopefully it works more times in the league now.
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"The team is amazing and it definitely feels like home already. They have made it very easy for me to integrate with the team. It is fun to be with them, they are all so young and hungry. This is exactly what I wanted and I am very happy to be here."
Join the debate! Where would you like to see Havertz play this season, Arsenal fans ? Let us know here.
Kai Havertz is relishing his new midfield role at Arsenal (ESPN)Havertz has been getting used to his new position during Arsenal's pre-season tour of the United States. He managed to get on the scoresheet in Wednesday's enthralling 5-3 win over Spanish champions Barcelona, but his suitability for such a role had come into question prior to that match.
Such talk irked Arteta, who launched a passionate defence of his plan for Havertz earlier this week. The Spaniard said: "We’re going to have to find the right balance as well, but a year ago Granit [Xhaka] could never play that as an attacking midfielder.
"So let’s try to get the work done. It’s the first time we played with four players inside, and three of them had never played for us. So three out of four, they never played together ever. So, tranquilo! Day-by-day, keep doing the right things, give people opportunity to settle them into the right things and we will be fine."
He continued: "Kai is one metre 91, so it depends what you mean physical. Physical is [also] to run, running behind the forward, to tackle. It depends. So we will fit in with the qualities that we have, that’s for sure. And the good thing is that we have options as well. When we have a game that is more physical, we can become very physical as well. We have the right options."
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