What position does Kai Havertz play? German has already revealed favoured role after Arsenal midfield experiment
Kai Havertz has endured a difficult start to life at Arsenal following his £65million move from Chelsea this summer.
The German has played four Premier League games for the Gunners and is yet to score or provide an assist for the club.
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This has led to some criticism, with manager Mikel Arteta speaking out to defend Havertz and his performances in north London so far.
Before the transfer was completed, doubts arose about where the forward would fit into Arteta’s system.
And those doubts seem to have been proved right with Havertz not fitting into the front three and therefore starting as a midfielder this season.
What position does Kai Havertz play?
For Arsenal this campaign, Havertz has been playing in midfield.
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However, questions are being asked about why Arteta is choosing to start him there.
The German played regularly as a forward for former club Chelsea and even scored in the Champions League final from that position.
And Havertz himself has revealed that playing up front is his preferred choice.
Speaking during the World Cup last winter, he admitted: “The position issue is really getting on my nerves now.
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“Everyone knows that I can play on the right, on the left, as a No 9 and as a No 10. Of course the positions are different, but I can play anything upfront.
"I really like the No 9 position, but I also know that as a striker you have to score goals.”
Havertz has also described himself as an ‘offensive player’ who likes to arrive in the box.
"Everyone should know by now what I can do - that I'm flexible up front and I can play a lot of different positions,” he explained.
"Of course, sometimes it's good to play in different positions and sometimes it's bad, but in general I'm an offensive player.
"I like to be in the box, I like to score goals, I like to arrive in the box often and I don't care if I'm there as a No.9 or a No.10. If I'm in the box, I'm there to score goals - and that's it."
However, different to what he prefers, Havertz plays on the left of the midfield three in Arteta's system.
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He spends a lot of his time in the middle of the pitch, drifting wide and sometimes having to drop deep and help defensively.
Therefore, he arrives in the box a lot less than he would like to.
This has led to less goal involvements and poorer performances which has already caused criticism from the Arsenal fans.
Havertz’s position is a major question mark for the Gunners at the moment with the player clearly preferring to play elsewhere.
And it could be that a change to his more preferred forward position ignites his career in north London.
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