Cesc Fabregas sees shades of himself in Kai Havertz as the Arsenal midfielder impresses critics with his performances under Mikel Arteta.
Kai Havertz’s season has been nothing short of remarkable, leaving many surprised by Arsenal’s decision to acquire the former Chelsea player after his struggles at Stamford Bridge.
Havertz initially faced a slow start, highlighted by his winner against Brentford in November, coinciding with Mikel Arteta’s tendency to bench him at the start of matches.
However, his pivotal goal at the Gtech Community Stadium marked a turning point, propelling the 24-year-old to score 11 Premier League goals as Arsenal contends for the title.
Furthermore, a significant shift occurred as Havertz was granted the opportunity to play as a forward, a role that revitalised his performance after struggling in the number eight position vacated by Granit Xhaka during the summer.
Arsenal Legend Cesc Fabregas Claims Kai Havertz Reminds Him of Himself
The German star has firmly established himself in the position, edging out Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah. While doubts linger about whether Havertz can become the goal-scoring sensation Arsenal fans yearn for, his recent brace against Chelsea showcased his significant contributions to the team.
During a discussion on Planet Premier League, Cesc Fabregas hinted that Arsenal might have tapped into Havertz’s full potential with his current role.
“I don’t like to talk about me, but he reminds me a little bit of me in Barcelona as well, because I used to play these two roles that he plays in a false nine in a way, and a number eight, and I know exactly what it feels like.
Read Also:
Rice Repeat: Arsenal “Considering” Major Move for Premier League Star Who’s a Big Upgrade on Xhaka
9/10 Arsenal Star Who Was “Out of This World” Did Something We’ve Not Seen Since 2017 vs Chelsea
“It’s good because he feels now an important player for the team, but at the same time, you don’t really know where you’re going to play the next game. It kind of confuses you, it’s better sometimes to stick to one place and get the best out of it,” he said.
“But now Partey’s back which is great news for Arsenal; then Rice will go a little bit as a number eight, so his place I think will be the number nine spot, and I think it suits him very well for the way Arsenal want to play.
“I really like it because he has very good link-up play. He attacks the space, as we saw yesterday he can score goals, he has good timing of his runs.
“He plays simple, he doesn’t try to make too many tricks or difficult things, he does what he has to do. He’s very simple in that, very basic, and that’s what makes him good.”
It seems Havertz is often under scrutiny due to his seemingly relaxed playing style and modest goal-scoring record. In his recent seven matches, he managed just one goal until the 5-0 victory against Chelsea.
However, Arteta seems to value his contribution beyond just scoring goals this season. Instead, he appreciates Havertz’s ability to build up play and maintain a decent strike rate, believing it benefits Arsenal more than having a more prolific striker in the number nine position. As Fabregas can attest, this strategic choice could yield significant rewards.