How Ollie Watkins could transform Arsenal XI as Kai Havertz given new role
Arsenal have FINALLY made a move to sign a striker and it could signal the end of Kai Havert’z time as a centre forward. Many Gooners have grown frustrated with a slow and inactive transfer window but a shock bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, worth £60million, sent ripples through social media. Watkins scored against Celtics on Wednesday night, hours after Arsenal’s bidGetty The bid was rejected and Villa head coach Unai Emery made it clear he has no intention of losing Watkins, a firm belief strengthened by Jhon Duran’s £64m move to Al Nassr. “I don’t want him to be sold,” Emery said after Aston Villa’s Champions League victory over Celtic. “It’s good news to have offers from other clubs.” “Every player can be in the market in case it’s good for the player, club and the team. “But to get this deal, of course we are going to be very demanding and Watkins is our striker.” A bid of this magnitude in January is unlike Arsenal, proving Mikel Arteta is a clear admirer of the forward and believes he could be the man to help deliver their first title since the 2003/2004 Invincibles. Watkins could be the start of another big shift in style for the Gunners as Havertz previously was when he was moved into the No 9 position. With 19 league goals last campaign the English international would most likely force Havertz into the midfield or even as a surprise option at right wing. Havertz as a midfielder The former Chelsea player started his career at Arsenal as a midfielder, predominantly playing as a left sided No 8. But not in the traditional sense that his predecessor Granit Xhaka did during the 2023/24 season. Instead, the manager introduced Havertz as a Raumdeuter – a German term which translates to space investigator or space interpreter and a role that encourages the player to exploit gaps in the opposition’s defence. Havertz has 14 goals this season in all competitionsGetty Arteta gave Havertz the freedom to no longer be limited by a fixed position allowing the No 29 to make late defence splitting runs from deep. An elusiveness that allows the German to stride or creep inside the box. For example, his goal against Luton Town last season stemmed from a run from the centre circle to just a few yards from the net. He becomes an extra man to occupy the backline often allowing for at least one Arsenal player to be left unmarked if not him His most recent appearance in midfield came against Ipswich Town last month, a game he scored the winner tapping in a cross from essentially a yard out. Havertz on the wing Standing at six foot four and appearing quite lanky, Havertz doesn’t look like the typical winger. But with the injury of Bukayo Saka and Arteta being wary not to run 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri ragged he may employ the 25-year-old there. Previously at Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea he has appeared on either wing, playing over 50 matches in those positions. And as his 2024/25 heat map shows Havertz does often like to drift out to the right to play short and intricate passes with his teammates. As he does in midfield he would be able to form a front two with Watkins when Jurien Timber or Thomas Partey at right-back push up field. A shift in play that sustains Havertz as an aerial threat in the box for crosses. Premier League top scorers 2024/25 PlayerGoalsMohamed Salah19Erling Haaland18Alexander Isak17Cole Palmer14Bryan Mbeumo14Chris Wood14Justin Kluivert11Yoane Wissa11Ollie Watkins10Matheus Cunha10Nicolas Jackson9James Maddison8Cody Gakpo8Luis Diaz8Raul Jimenez8Liam Delap8Kai Havertz8Jean-Philippe Mateta8
Arsenal have FINALLY made a move to sign a striker and it could signal the end of Kai Havert’z time as a centre forward.
Many Gooners have grown frustrated with a slow and inactive transfer window but a shock bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, worth £60million, sent ripples through social media.
The bid was rejected and Villa head coach Unai Emery made it clear he has no intention of losing Watkins, a firm belief strengthened by Jhon Duran’s £64m move to Al Nassr.
“I don’t want him to be sold,” Emery said after Aston Villa’s Champions League victory over Celtic. “It’s good news to have offers from other clubs.”
“Every player can be in the market in case it’s good for the player, club and the team.
“But to get this deal, of course we are going to be very demanding and Watkins is our striker.”
A bid of this magnitude in January is unlike Arsenal, proving Mikel Arteta is a clear admirer of the forward and believes he could be the man to help deliver their first title since the 2003/2004 Invincibles.
Watkins could be the start of another big shift in style for the Gunners as Havertz previously was when he was moved into the No 9 position.
With 19 league goals last campaign the English international would most likely force Havertz into the midfield or even as a surprise option at right wing.
Havertz as a midfielder
The former Chelsea player started his career at Arsenal as a midfielder, predominantly playing as a left sided No 8.
But not in the traditional sense that his predecessor Granit Xhaka did during the 2023/24 season.
Instead, the manager introduced Havertz as a Raumdeuter – a German term which translates to space investigator or space interpreter and a role that encourages the player to exploit gaps in the opposition’s defence.
Arteta gave Havertz the freedom to no longer be limited by a fixed position allowing the No 29 to make late defence splitting runs from deep.
An elusiveness that allows the German to stride or creep inside the box.
For example, his goal against Luton Town last season stemmed from a run from the centre circle to just a few yards from the net.
He becomes an extra man to occupy the backline often allowing for at least one Arsenal player to be left unmarked if not him
His most recent appearance in midfield came against Ipswich Town last month, a game he scored the winner tapping in a cross from essentially a yard out.
Havertz on the wing
Standing at six foot four and appearing quite lanky, Havertz doesn’t look like the typical winger.
But with the injury of Bukayo Saka and Arteta being wary not to run 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri ragged he may employ the 25-year-old there.
Previously at Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea he has appeared on either wing, playing over 50 matches in those positions.
And as his 2024/25 heat map shows Havertz does often like to drift out to the right to play short and intricate passes with his teammates.
As he does in midfield he would be able to form a front two with Watkins when Jurien Timber or Thomas Partey at right-back push up field.
A shift in play that sustains Havertz as an aerial threat in the box for crosses.
Premier League top scorers 2024/25
| Player | Goals |
| Mohamed Salah | 19 |
| Erling Haaland | 18 |
| Alexander Isak | 17 |
| Cole Palmer | 14 |
| Bryan Mbeumo | 14 |
| Chris Wood | 14 |
| Justin Kluivert | 11 |
| Yoane Wissa | 11 |
| Ollie Watkins | 10 |
| Matheus Cunha | 10 |
| Nicolas Jackson | 9 |
| James Maddison | 8 |
| Cody Gakpo | 8 |
| Luis Diaz | 8 |
| Raul Jimenez | 8 |
| Liam Delap | 8 |
| Kai Havertz | 8 |
| Jean-Philippe Mateta | 8 |
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