The Mailbox argues why Mikel Arteta is being clever by signing Kai Havertz from Chelsea. Also: bonnie Scotland; ‘gullible’ Liverpool fans respond; sportswashing; and more…
Get your views in to theeditor@football365.com…
Mikel knows
Hello all, long time reader, first time writer. I normally think of things to write and then never do it but unbeknownst to me this subject has willed pen to paper (or thumb to the notes app). Does anybody else think the reporting around Kai Havertz’s possible transfer is whack?
Every publication under the sun has spent the past year reporting on how Chelsea lack a true number 9 (an accusation also thrown at Jesus by a few) and how old Kai The Guy™ cannot finish and is in fact, not the guy. The opinion that he is best operating as a second striker or a 10 that pushes forward to act as such is repeated constantly.
So why when I see the transfer updates and opinion pieces around his impending transfer to arsenal (or Bayern for that matter), has everybody got him pegged as a back up / replacement for the number 9 position? As if after the season he’s had as a lone 9 would entice either club to invest in him for that position?
(Erm, we didn’t say he would be a back-up No. 9 in our opinion piece – Ed)
Is it not occurring to anybody that Man like Mikel might have something else in mind here? For example, using him as the SECOND striker? Imagine a midfield double pivot of Rice and Odegaard with Havertz sitting in front of them. Waiting for big Dec to regain the possession and either play it off with Ode or go on one of his mad runs forward to get it to Kai outside the box? Or get it out wide and then you have 2 threats to play off of in the box. Worst case scenario Dec can sit while Ode moves forward, Zinchenko pushing into the midfield as he enjoys doing so much and then you’re left with a front 5 of Ode, Havertz, Martinelli, Jesus, Saka.
There are many other possibilities that this could allow as well, not even adding all the combination it will allow during the inevitable injury crisis (of which Havertz has only suffered 3 of, missing 6 premier league games for Chelsea).
And I know a lot of naysayers will point out Kai’s poor stats or say he’s only good at this and not X Y Z but do we really know all that as gospel? Have we seen him with the best structure around him or even in the right position? I’d say the answer can be dictated by how you feel Chelsea’s last 3 seasons have gone.