Lukas Podolski urges Arsenal to make Kai Havertz tactical switch to unlock full potential
Arsenal cult hero Lukas Podolski has given his thoughts to talkSPORT on the long-running debate about Kai Havertz’s best position. The World Cup-winning Germany star knows a thing or two about being versatile up front, having shone throughout his career in a multitude of positions in the final third. Gunners fans loved Podolski’s explosive play around the opposition boxGetty Havertz is winning some fans over, but has a goalscoring burden unlike his countryman PodolskiThe Times A Gunner from 2012 to 2015, the Cologne legend was always at his best with a striker in front of him, and feels like the same can be said for Havertz. Despite his Champions League-winning goal for Chelsea in 2021, Havertz often looked out of place up front for the Blues, but since his 2023 switch to Arsenal, he’s looked far more functional in Mikel Arteta’s system. However, Podolski still believes that with someone else ahead of him Havertz can shine even more. “I don’t know if when he was younger his position was a proper number nine, but for me he’s not a classic number nine striker,” he told talkSPORT at an EA event in Cologne. “He does well, but I think when you put Kai behind a good striker he has more potential, but let’s see, it’s only my view from outside.” Podolski is hoping for the switch, as it could see a side he still holds dear in his heart move closer to a first Premier League title since 2004. “Let’s cross our fingers that this season will be good and we win the Premier League and maybe something happens in Europe,” he added. “I think they’re building something great, good structure, good atmosphere, but we as the fans from outside, we want something at the end [of the season].” Arsenal are yet to play in the FA Cup, meaning they still have four trophies available as they’ve already progressed in the Carabao Cup. In the Champions League they currently sit seventh in the league phase, which would secure automatic progression to the last 16. Havertz is having one of his better seasons so far Meanwhile, in the Premier League, a 2-0 win over Manchester United helped them close the gap to leaders Liverpool to seven points as they drew 3-3 against Newcastle. So far, Havertz has certainly played his part, with nine goals in 20 games giving him a goals-per-game rate of 0.48, his best since moving to England from Bayer Leverkusen. However, Arsenal have dropped key points, particularly with recent defeats to Bournemouth and Newcastle, and cries for an out-and-out number nine in the January transfer window look set to continue. Lukas Podolski was speaking at an EA FC Futures event, with EA helping fund grassroots level development of young boys and girls around the world
Arsenal cult hero Lukas Podolski has given his thoughts to talkSPORT on the long-running debate about Kai Havertz’s best position.
The World Cup-winning Germany star knows a thing or two about being versatile up front, having shone throughout his career in a multitude of positions in the final third.
A Gunner from 2012 to 2015, the Cologne legend was always at his best with a striker in front of him, and feels like the same can be said for Havertz.
Despite his Champions League-winning goal for Chelsea in 2021, Havertz often looked out of place up front for the Blues, but since his 2023 switch to Arsenal, he’s looked far more functional in Mikel Arteta’s system.
However, Podolski still believes that with someone else ahead of him Havertz can shine even more.
“I don’t know if when he was younger his position was a proper number nine, but for me he’s not a classic number nine striker,” he told talkSPORT at an EA event in Cologne.
“He does well, but I think when you put Kai behind a good striker he has more potential, but let’s see, it’s only my view from outside.”
Podolski is hoping for the switch, as it could see a side he still holds dear in his heart move closer to a first Premier League title since 2004.
“Let’s cross our fingers that this season will be good and we win the Premier League and maybe something happens in Europe,” he added.
“I think they’re building something great, good structure, good atmosphere, but we as the fans from outside, we want something at the end [of the season].”
Arsenal are yet to play in the FA Cup, meaning they still have four trophies available as they’ve already progressed in the Carabao Cup.
In the Champions League they currently sit seventh in the league phase, which would secure automatic progression to the last 16.
Meanwhile, in the Premier League, a 2-0 win over Manchester United helped them close the gap to leaders Liverpool to seven points as they drew 3-3 against Newcastle.
So far, Havertz has certainly played his part, with nine goals in 20 games giving him a goals-per-game rate of 0.48, his best since moving to England from Bayer Leverkusen.
However, Arsenal have dropped key points, particularly with recent defeats to Bournemouth and Newcastle, and cries for an out-and-out number nine in the January transfer window look set to continue.
Lukas Podolski was speaking at an EA FC Futures event, with EA helping fund grassroots level development of young boys and girls around the world
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