In about 26 hours, we'll get to watch Arsenal play against Nurenberg in Germany. Safe to say there's a lot of excitement about the match but one thing we know for sure is that neither Declan Rice or Jurrien Timber will be part of the squad.
Many fans had hoped that we'd get the chance to see our two latest signings on the pitch but it seems there's been some delay in announcing their deals. There's not been any word about why there's delay but one thing we know for sure is that both deals have crossed the line.
There's a part of me that's very nervous due to the lack of information surrounding both deals but I'm trying to contain my excitement. I guess things are just progressing at snail speed because that's how Arsenal wants it to be.
In any case, we got word that the Declan Rice deal was being held back by some issues with Arsenal's lawyers but by now, I reckon that should have been resolved. Ultimately, I just want to see the end of both these transfers and see how these new players on the pitch.
One of the options
In any case, one deal that has largely gone under the radar is the addition of Kai Havertz to the squad. he has already resumed training with the squad and will be looking to make an impact in preseason.
Many have alleged that Arsenal will not spend that much money on Havertz to "play him on the bench" but I think he will only be one of the options and not a sure starter in every match.
There has been a lot of talk about how kai will slot into the "Xhaka role" in the squad. I think there's some truth to it but the execution will be much different.
First of all, we already know that Kai and Xhaka are two very different types of players, so the way Kai will handle that role will differ. Despite Xhaka's best efforts to contribute offensively, he is still not t the level that Kai is because the German midfielder is more of an attacker than a central midfielder.
At the same time, Xhaka has spent sometime playing deeper, so he has honed some level of defensive awareness that also offered the team an advantage when we are without the ball. That is something Kai will have to work on as he might have to cover for the marauding Zinchenko at times.
Again, the previous paragraph is on the assumption that Kai will slot in to fill the "Xhaka position". Personally, I don't think playing Havertz and Odegars together will offer a sustainable team and the kind of balance that Xhaka offered.
Funny thing is that the one player that I believe is much more suited to the Xhaka position is Declan Rice but so many pundits think of him as a replacement for Partey. Looking at Rice, he offers a similar kind of balance that Xhaka would offer with a lot more athleticism and technicality to boot.
I think the presence of Havertz would, in all likelihood, see us shift to a 4-4-2 Diamond shape where Odegard and Rice are in midfield, Havertz at the top of the diamond and a front two that could comprise of anyone between Jesus, Nketiah, Saka, Martinelli and Trossard.
In this 4-4-2 diamond, Havertz and Odegard will be free to drift wide whenever they see an opportunity, while Rice shifts inward and either of Partey and Jorginho pushes forward to occupy the space that Odegard vacates whenever he pushes forward.
So, in some way, our shape will be like a 4-2-1-3 when we're with the ball, with Partey or Joginho sitting the deepest, Rice beside them but only just, Odegard in the hole and Havertz pushed wide. Alternatively, in some cases, it will be Havertz in the hole and Odegard wide.
All I'm saying is that I can't imagine a scenario where Havertz and Odegard starts without Rice and one of either Jorginho or Partey. Adding new players is nice and all but lets face it, simply swapping Havertz for Xhaka in our previous setup could be cataclysmic in fixtures against top teams. Until we meet again, up the Arsenal
I think you've done good justice to this post. Indeed Havertz is more attacking than Xhaka..
Nice music here, it is the near jingoism all over Arsenal at the moment.
THIS IS ARSENAL!