Kai Havertz: Kais and Lows

[Trilly]

I do think he’s a decent player but all the above is also true. It’s led to us now seeing Rice struggle to be a no8 at times when he was never brought in to do that.

 

[ArsenalInMyHeart]

I do think he’s a decent player but all the above is also true. It’s led to us now seeing Rice struggle to be a no8 at times when he was never brought in to do that.

Pre-season 23/24 Arteta tried Lokonga at LCM => Failed
23/24: Kai, ESR, Vieira at LCM => Failed
24/25: Merino at LCM => Failed

The people didn't realize Rice 23/24 is so so good at 6.

Rice was bought to replace Partey... Until now no Xhaka's replacement.

 

[jaystewart]

If are going to pin it one signing, surely Rice is the juncture where our future could of been different. He's a decent player but who blows 100m+ on defensive midfielder who isn't technically good enough to play 6 or 8 at high level. Ødegaard has been ****e since Rice arrived. Again, Rice is a decent player but I think if you ask people, they would say they are underwhelmed by Rice.

 

[Trilly]

If are going to pin it one signing, surely Rice is the juncture where our future could of been different. He's a decent player but who blows 100m+ on defensive midfielder who isn't technically good enough to play 6 or 8 at high level. Ødegaard has been ****e since Rice arrived. Again, Rice is a decent player but I think if you ask people, they would say they are underwhelmed by Rice.

Well that's why Rice was signed at the same time as Kai.

He was meant to play as a purely defensive 6 who is okay enough on the ball to not impact our build-up as long as he's surrounded by ball players. Rice is much better at his job than Havertz is better at his, so while you could blame him it comes across harsh.

 

[jaystewart]

Well that's why Rice was signed at the same time as Kai.

He was meant to play as a purely defensive 6 who is okay enough on the ball to not impact our build-up as long as he's surrounded by ball players. Rice is much better at his job than Havertz is better at his, so while you could blame him it comes across harsh.

Rice came before Havertz. He was the marquee signing planned well in advance who for some reason doesn't quite fit. Thats a blunder because he has caused as many problems as he has solved.

Havertz was out of nowwhere and is another fart in the wind. I had no expectations and never hinged my hopes on him. Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze are similar signing who get a pass grade for performance. They haven't been awful but have not raised our level yet we never really expected them to do so.

I can't sit here and say the Rice signing is really stands above the ones just mentioned, baring his bravery, work ethic and his engine. I still see our long lost Saka, long lost Saliba and long lost Ødegaard as our most talented players. I find it strange that Rice isn't expected be a game changer.

 

[DanDare]

Is Havertz better than Merino? Serious question. He's probably a bit of a better forward but much worse in every other position they've both played in. Plus Merino can do an ok job at 6.

He cost 3x as much and is on 4x as much wages.

 

[omurphysjaw]

I won't go too much into this because the season isn't over yet.

But signing Havertz has had huge ramifications on our recruitment, weakening two critical positions, especially CF when we needed specialists there. We wouldn't have been having these conversations had we got a natural goal scorer all those years ago. An arrogant signing from our recruitment team.

I'd love to be proved wrong this season.

 

[Trilly]

Rice came before Havertz. He was the marquee signing planned well in advance who for some reason doesn't quite fit. Thats a blunder because he has caused as many problems as he has solved.

Havertz was out of nowwhere and is another fart in the wind. I had no expectations and never hinged my hopes on him. Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze are similar signing who get a pass grade for performance. They haven't been awful but have not raised our level yet we never really expected them to do so.

I can't sit here and say the Rice signing is really stands above the ones just mentioned, baring his bravery, work ethic and his engine. I still see our long lost Saka, long lost Saliba and long lost Ødegaard as our most talented players. I find it strange that Rice isn't expected be a game changer.

The articles at the time from our club mouthpieces made it clear that Rice was signed to move us to a dual no10s setup. Havertz came after but Mount/Havertz, Ødegaard and Rice was always the plan.

 

[Trilly]

Is Havertz better than Merino? Serious question. He's probably a bit of a better forward but much worse in every other position they've both played in. Plus Merino can do an ok job at 6.

He cost 3x as much and is on 4x as much wages.

Merino's the better signing and it's not even close.

 

[Oxeki]

When you look at the trajectory this was on. Signing him was a huge mistake. Most people was against the signing at the time. But the vocal majority gaslit us into thinking he was best possible player for us at the time.

When you look at the players that went to PSG, also the likes of Cherki, etc who was available even Szobozlai was a far better option at the time. It left us in a hole and Arteta has kept on digging since.

 

[scytheavatar]

We paid 100M for a slightly better Coquelin, blaming Havertz for how Rice turned out makes zero sense. People are deluding themselves if they believe Rice was amazing and bossing everyone without Havertz. Rice so far has been a luxury signing, he just needs to defend a bit and he's apparently our best player.

If Rice was a 30M player who came from Switzerland fans would be wondering why he is starting every game.

 

[grange]

Merino does what he does but better. This guy is a liability in midfield to start games and the team's injuries don't allow him to sneak goals as a second striker anymore. It's time to take Bambi out behind the woodshed.

 

[Diesel]

Partey was the press resistant monster. Didn't replace him. Now teams are pressuring our scared back line and we have no way out. Combination of stupid happening and starting Kai at 10 with no ball progressor is one of the many wrong choices. That left side is so **** the fact we have tried Kai or Jesus there is ****ing stupid. Can play Martinelli on right or dowman.

 

[fute]

Havertz was great for us once he moved up front and before he got hurt.

He's the reason for that run in 23-24 season. The only blip was the Villa game at home where Arteta brain farts again and starts him in midfield.

Kai sucked and still does as a midfielder.

Merino is meh as a midfielder for us (great for Spain though) but does well as a backup 9.

Rice is an elite defender and corner kicker. That's it.

The 8 position still has a void.

Sum up the transfer fees for all 3 of those guys and compare that number to what we sold for Xhaka.

 

[RunTheTrap]

Signing Havertz to play in midfield is the real life version of playing Fifa career mode on legendary mode with one hand behind your back while wearing a blindfold because you want to test yourself. It's an incredibly selfish and arrogant move from the boss. Better and more established coaches than Arteta couldn't figure the “Kai problem”, but a novice coach who bottled his first league title thought he had the answer. Unfortunately, that involved real money that we’ll never see again. We’re seeing the same with Madueke. It's never been about strengthening the squad; it was always about testing oneself.

People blaming Rice for Havertz not doing the basics of a competent midfielder is like blaming women for Partey not understanding no means no.

 

[2Smokeyy]

Partey was the press resistant monster. Didn't replace him. Now teams are pressuring our scared back line and we have no way out. Combination of stupid happening and starting Kai at 10 with no ball progressor is one of the many wrong choices. That left side is so **** the fact we have tried Kai or Jesus there is ****ing stupid. Can play Martinelli on right or dowman.

If anything, I think one of our biggest losses was not replacing Xhaka effectively, the fanbase shot themselves in the foot believing it would be as straightforward as they had in their minds. Kai was initially brought into play there as was the idea of Merino to play there too. Martinelli had been going through a purple patch that season but let’s be real, it’s one of the reasons why our left hand side looks pathetic.

I think they touch on it here but these things just seem to be swept under the carpet when he freestyles putting a player in another position and they half work out there:

 

[Sammy1887]

Never ever acknowledged this guy as a good signing. Project went on a downward spiral the moment we signed Kai Havertz.

Not a midfielder, can't play as a creative attacking player, not good enough as a striker and yet we paid 60Mill and made him one of our highest earners. This alone should be enough of a reason to sack Teta.

 

[gunman90]

Would love to sell this bum in the summer.

 

[Arsenal1508]

Against ManCity, he must start ahead of Victor. In the big games, Victor's style we dont play to his strengths...Best he comes of bench. Havertz can hold up the ball better and we will need him vs City to play in our wide players.

 

[HighburyHigh]

He'll offer zero Sunday. Get rid back to Germany.