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Kai Havertz can excel in his new midfield role at Arsenal despite a quiet start to pre-season.
That is according to Ian Wright, who believes the £65million signing can build a partnership with Gabriel Jesus in Mikel Arteta’s plan to play Havertz in a deeper role.
The German made his first appearance in a Gunners shirt in the friendly against Nurnberg but failed to set the world alight as Arsenal laboured to a 1-1 draw.
But club legend Wright is adamant that Havertz will be a success with his new role tipped to work perfectly in behind striker Jesus.
“I feel very, very confident about that midfield and what that midfield can produce,” he told the Wrighty’s House podcast after the arrival of Declan Rice.
“Especially with Havertz. Havertz in that role, I think we are going to be very surprised in his quality as well.
“Arsenal fans are going to love him, we haven’t seen nothing from him at Chelsea. Yes, he’s scored the winning goal in a Champions League final and stuff like that.
“But, he’s not a [number] nine, he’s not a false nine. He’s either a ten drifting in like he did for [Bayer] Leverkusen, scoring lots of goals in his first couple of seasons.
“But I can see him as an eight, arriving with Jesus coming out, leaving those spaces. I cannot help but get excited.”
