Arsenal ‘view Kai Havertz – NOT Declan Rice – as replacement for Granit Xhaka’

Mikel Arteta is preparing to use incoming Chelsea starlet Kai Havertz as a replacement for Granit Xhaka in Arsenal‘s starting XI next season, according to reports. 

Mail Sport reported that the Spanish manager landed the club’s priority target on Wednesday for a guaranteed £65million, in a sale that will see the coffers of Havertz’s former club handed a healthy boost in the wake of their £600m spending spree over the past two transfer windows. 

The 24-year-old is one of two players that Arsenal has been prioritising attracting to the Emirates during the summer window, and the Gunners are believed to the frontrunners to securing the signature of their second, Declan Rice. 

Arsenal have previously tabled two bids for the West Ham captain but both have been rejected, with the Hammers set to hold out for a minimum of £100m to say goodbye to the England star. 

But whilst the midfielder had long been viewed as a replacement for the outgoing Xhaka, Arteta is considering other plans for his summer recruits. 

Arsenal’s new recruit Kai Havertz is set to be used as a left-sided No 8 by Mikel Arteta

No 1 transfer target Declan Rice (left) was previously seen as the successor to Granit Xhaka (right) but he is likely to play more defensively

As per The Athletic, the head coach believes that the Germany international will thrive within Arteta’s dynamic possession game, and as a left-side No 8, will have the freedom to shimmy up the pitch and make late runs into the box, drawing up Arsenal’s left-backs behind him. 

Arteta is enamoured with Havertz’s versatility, which has seen the German cast in a number of different roles since his move to west London in 2020, but the proposed use of Havertz may give fans pause. 

For Chelsea’s 2022-23 campaign, Havertz was largely used as an out-and-out No 9 due to a crisis of sorts in the position. 

Landmark 2021 signing Romelu Lukaku had been loaned back to Inter Milan after a disastrous season at Stamford Bridge, academy product Armando Broja picked up a season-ending injury, and none of Chelsea’s four managers during the season spent much time testing either Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or David Datro Fofana. 

Despite ending the season as the club’s top-scorer, Havertz never looked entirely comfortable as the sharp prong of Chelsea’s attack, and has looked happier in seasons passed, as either a No 10 or a false 9. 

Arteta is thought to believe that Havertz’s new role as a No 8 will suit his preferred 3-2-5 attacking shape, which is reminiscent of how he was at times used during his blistering spell at Bayer Leverkusen. 

The Spanish coach is confident his system will see the versatile forward return to his best

Havertz had a white-hot spell at Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen between 2016 and 2020

Havertz earnt his move to Chelsea off the back of two strong seasons in the Bundesliga which saw him play in an array of different positions for the free-flowing team. 

His strong goalscoring record during the 2019-2020 campaign – which saw him register 27 goal contributions in a challenging season – is one that Arteta will hope the player can recapture with his move to the Emirates. 

Whilst Xhaka is yet to announce his destination ahead of next season, the Switzerland international is all but confirmed to be leaving the club after making over 300 appearances. 

The 30-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Leverkusen, and a return to the Bundesliga after joining Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016.