Country: Bangladesh
Player:White
Because people are jumping to false conclusions, thinking that his poor first half season showing was solely position related and that he has improved only because he is now playing up front, when it's obvious that he was completely devoid of any confidence and courage in the first half which wasn't position related and has since grown massively as the season has progressed.
Regardless, of whether he plays in midfield or up front, he still executes actions in the same part of the pitch and instead of the timid, and regressive player we saw, he's morphed into a guy who his hitting 40 yard cross field passes to setup Saka for goals.
He is better up front but had we kept him in midfield all season, his performances would still be greatly improved today.
Nah you guys don’t get it.
There is a huge difference between what is required up front and in midfield, both in the technical and mental aspects of the game. Not only that you need to consider the attributes of the midfield collective.
What Kai lacks from the technical side of the game for midfield:
1. The ability to execute simple things to a degree of perfection repeatedly, over and over and over again. Kai (and Jesus, and pretty much most forwards) can pull off the sublime one moment and then fluff something simple the next. Forwards tend to be high risk high reward by design.
2. Pace of Passing. Havertz often doesn’t put enough pace on the ball when passing the ball along the ground and it becomes a target for interception or places the recipient under undue pressure. Again, this risk is mitigated when it’s happening further upfield with 3 midfielders to protect our shape behind him. But if he is in midfield then it’s a risk.
What Kai lacks from the mental side to be a midfielder:
1. Movement. This is probably what frustrates me most about these conversations because if you guys actually watched and understood Havertz like the fans you claim to be you should just get it. Havertz is an incredible space merchant. He knows exactly when and where to run to disrupt the opposition back line. He drops deep to drag a center back with him to open a space for a winger, he will occupy the spaces between them to throw off who’s marking who and he will also just straight up get physical with them. Sounds simple but he times all of this to perfection. All of these things make him a great forward. None of these things are good in midfield. In midfield you need to show for the ball. Part of the reason we were so bad with central progression when Kai was at 8 is because he would play his natural game and try to find a space that would disrupt the opposition, as opposed to find a space that would open up passing lanes for us. There is a difference between these two.
What Arsenal lacks from the midfield collective when Kai plays in midfield:
1. Central Progression: He is not someone who can play cute passes through the lines with any amount of regularity. And neither is Rice. When they both play in midfield this places a huge burden on Ødegaard and if the opposition mark him out of the game then that’s it. We got nothing apart from Saka and inshallah. Now yes, you can ask “well why are we playing Rice then?”. Because Rice gives us manifestly world class qualities in other aspects. Kai in midfield doesn’t. It’s that simple. Would it work better if we had Partey and Kai instead of Rice - yes, but not as good as Rice + say Paqueta would. Or Rice at 8. So why do it?
Conclusion:
We have witnessed one of the greatest Remontada’s of recent times with Kai in his false 9 role. Please, I beg you guys, don’t fk this up moving him back to 8 where we shackle his strengths, amplify his weaknesses and drag down the overall attributes of the team as a whole.