How Havertz's movement has brought Arteta's vision to life

Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be influential in Matchweek 27.

Player analysis: Kai Havertz

He got off to a slow start, but summer signing Havertz has now fully relaxed into his role as Arsenal’s interchangeable attacker.

With every passing week it is becoming harder to put a label on the German’s position.

Whether he nominally starts at centre-forward or on the left of midfield, there is little to distinguish between the areas Havertz occupies, as he seamlessly switches places with team-mates.

His presence has provided Mikel Arteta with greater tactical variety; a key reason, perhaps, why the Spaniard brought Havertz to Emirates Stadium.

With Arsenal facing bottom side Sheffield United on Monday, Havertz is more likely to be used as one of two attacking midfielders, slipping into a deeper role at the expense of either Jorginho or Declan Rice.

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Turning point

Havertz has looked a different player since popping up to score the winning goal against Brentford on 25 November.

Creating a far-post 3v2 to head home from Bukayo Saka’s cross, it was his first meaningful contribution to a victory, and from that moment onwards he has expressed himself more freely.

Havertz's winner at Brentford

The former Chelsea star has certainly appeared less tense in front of goal.

Early in the campaign he nervously snatched at opportunities but, since scoring at Brentford, Havertz's conversion rate has jumped from 7.7 per cent to 23.8 per cent.

Havertz is not really getting into the penalty box more often, but he and his team-mates are now more in tune with one another’s movements, and as a result they are fashioning better chances.

Across the last 13 league matches, Havertz has an excellent return of one goal every 177 minutes.

He is becoming increasingly confident, and his team-mates are now far more in sync with the runs and passes Havertz likes to make.

How Havertz's stats have improved 23/24

* including blocks; **including assists

Target man

Havertz has arguably looked at his most comfortable as Arsenal’s centre-forward.

Interestingly, Arteta used him there against both Liverpool and Newcastle United, two of the strongest pressing sides in the league.

In those contests Arteta wanted Rice and Jorginho to give his team greater control from deep, and added protection for the back four.

But he also saw Havertz as the perfect "out-ball", with the German offering height and strong hold-up play that allowed his goalkeeper and defenders to pass the ball long with confidence, missing out the opposition press.

You can see from the data below that Arsenal went longer more often in those matches with their summer recruit up front.

How Havertz's position has changed 

Part of a floating "false-nine" crew

When used as a striker, Havertz performs in the mould of a "false nine", much like Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus.

This pair of heat maps below are a terrific example of why you cannot give the 24-year-old a positional label.

At Burnley he was a left midfielder, and against Liverpool he was the striker, but the areas where he had his touches were extremely similar.

When Havertz drops in to link play or to help out defensively, somebody else will push on and fill that gap. In turn, when he plays in midfield you will regularly see the German appearing in advanced areas as the point of attack.

Ever since Arteta took charge in December 2019 this fluid style has been his goal, and right now the players are producing the type of attacking football he imagined.

Intelligent runs

One of Havertz’s best qualities is his eye for running into space.

Whether he spins in behind and down a channel, or makes a telling burst from deep, his off-the-ball movement is always smart.

His goal in the 4-3 win at Luton Town showcased his quality in this department. Pushing himself to support Jesus, he ran onto a lovely, lobbed pass to find a finish.

That was a classic run from midfield, but he can arrive in similar style when playing up front.

The chance below that he spurned against Liverpool began when he linked play inside his own half before making a 40-yard run to support Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal's twin "false-nine" axis, and the positions they took up, bamboozled Jurgen Klopp’s men.

The sheer quantity of Havertz’s off-the-ball runs are also impressive.

He is a slippery player to mark, constantly on the move and looking to making angles for team-mates or to find a way to get on the end of something inside the box. 

Most off-the-ball runs for Arsenal 23/24

Wherever Havertz lines up against Sheff Utd, the Blades will need to keep a close eye on his beguiling movement.

Now that he fully understands Arteta’s tactics and is playing with confidence, Havertz should be regarded as one of the most elusive and dangerous forwards around.

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