Yeah maybe he wasn’t as bad as I’m remembering. I’ve been pretty complimentary of his contributions since joining even if I don’t like the guy so if it turns out he had some nice passes that weren’t controlled or whatever I can admit that. I told @DavidHillier I’d rewatch the second half.
1 Like
Back up to Fabio at the moment and Fabio isn’t at the level to be starting at Arsenal either.
Probably should have gone upfront towards the end.
The best he’s looked for us was playing up front.
4 Likes
I knew that meme would resurface eventually.
Get ready to see a bunch of shitty James Bond/Havertz photoshops from guys with Twitter handles like “CFCDrogbaDave” or something like that.
He’s been so disappointing for me especially after I talked myself into liking the signing and trying not to be overly negative given his horrendous form, huge fee and the fact he was coming from Chelsea.
I think we may have accidentally stumbled into a possible option at the 9 but he’s not going to hack it at this left 8 position unless he has a massive turnaround. As it is, with the likelihood we’re going to be without Rice and Partey for a bit, I think Arteta needs to rethink things. We cannot have Jorginho as a single pivot with Havertz and Odegaard ahead of him. That’s just asking for trouble.
Said it pre-season and it’s still true, this guy will never be a good #8
Use him up top instead of Nketiah. Make 8 a priority for the next window.
3 Likes
I forced myself to buy into the idea that he was athletic enough to cover the same space Xhaka did and better going forward that he’d of course be more of a threat. But it seems like he’s best either running into the box as the last man, Aaron Ramsey-style, or as an option at the 9.
Maybe he’ll take a year to learn that left 8 position and it’ll all be sunshine and rainbows but at least right now there’s nothing to suggest he’s going to be a serious upgrade on Xhaka at the left 8 and maybe even a slight downgrade given how horrible his shooting has been.
2 Likes
If that/s how it shakes out then he’ll be a huge waste of money because we need much better up top and someone who can actually compete with and be an improvement on Jesus as an out and out #9
2 Likes
We just have to hope he turns it around or another coach is convinced they can unlock his potential and we can sell him.
I think he’d probably benefit from an extended period out of the team but we’re so crushed with injuries he’s going to keep getting picked.
I honestly don’t think Havertz has been bad - I think there is a player in there, I think the biggest ingredient missing is confidence. I could be horribly wrong but I think he just needs a couple goals and it will start to fall into place for him.
He is at somewhat of a disadvantage in that on the right, Saliba manages to find Odegaard consistently. White and Saka also pass to Odegaard with regularity. On the left, Zinchenko goes into midfield rather than stick to the left. Gabriel almost never passes to Havertz - it feels like he passes to keeper or Saliba or CDM and I think this is largely due to his ability on the ball. Martinelli also doesn’t try to find Havertz. With Jesus playing, Havertz got more of the ball, but their minutes together are limited.
From what I have seen, Havertz makes clever runs that our players are not seeing.
Whilst it may never click for him at Arsenal, I definitely think there is a player in there that can make a difference.
4 Likes
Feels like a little bit of copium to me. And don’t get me wrong, I’m grasping at straws as well to find something to hang my hat on when it comes to him fitting into this system.
4 Likes
very true observation… Kai rarely gets the ball, even when he was open and was a better option on the field.
Right now he contributes more on off ball situations because his numbers of getting the ball are very limited.
Trust has to be mutual, and Kai has to get the trust from his teammates, which takes time.
I like Jesus on the left because they pass the ball to each other a lot more than Martinelli, but that would be just temporary.
In a game based heavily around confidence, a significant number of our fans taking any possible angle to bash Havertz with is the biggest problem I’ve seen with his time at Arsenal so far, in fact in regards to Havertz I think a lot of our fans have been an absolute disgrace.
It’s getting this way.
Tbf, at the games, the fanbase is very supportive of him.
1 Like
Yeah I was at the game yesterday and I didn’t hear anything directed towards him even in the midst of that very frustrating second half.
1 Like
I am not sure about copium but his stats from 2022/23 season showed he was second only to Haaland in terms of progressive runs - I still see him doing that for us in the games I have seen.
I was not a huge fan of the signing and only remembered him at Chelsea for the shots he missed. The signing did not enamour me but now he is here, having watched more of him, I can see a player devoid of confidence but doing a lot of the right things. He finds spaces, makes the right runs, appears to read the game well and is decent off the ball, although is giving away too many needless fouls.
Like I said, maybe it never clicks for him, but I think he can be an asset to the squad if Arteta can find a way to grow his confidence (it may only take him scoring a goal or two).
Has he ever played in the 9 role for us as yet ?
Nah, but Wednesday he could be an option there. Problem is, Brentford are no mugs. Our second string versus their starting XI could make for an exciting, intriguing game
2 Likes
What this talk about him being low on confidence!?
He just bagged a big money move to a successful coach and young ascending top level squad where he walked into the 11.
Why would his confidence be low after a couple of games? Because he hasn’t scored or assisted yet? If that’s the case that’s a sign of a weak mentality. I don’t think bagging a goal will do much in the long run with these lukewarm performances
3 Likes
Yeah, doesn’t make a lot of sense for him to be short on confidence after so few games.
A third or half a season of crappy performances perhaps but not this early and if it is the case then yeah it’s quite a bad sign.
He’s someone that gets attention because these others guys showed they can ball last season and have credit in the bank whereas he was chosen as our only attacking singing in response to finishing 2nd to City and attempting to go again.
I’ve mentioned before but I’m disappointed in what he brings in the ball or rather what he doesn’t, been quite mediocre and underwhelming in that department especially.