Journalist Lewis Ambrose has now named one Arsenal player who has helped to improve the likes of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.
Mikel Arteta has evolved his tactical approach at Arsenal over the course of the season.
The way the Gunners are set up to play has gradually changed and developed throughout the campaign, as form and injuries have influenced team selections and tactics.
For instance, when Jakub Kiwior came into the side for an extended spell whilst Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu were both sidelined with injury, he struggled to perform the left-back role in the inverted fashion that has been established at Arsenal.
In response to this, Arteta tasked Ben White with adopting an inverted role at right-back instead. The former Brighton man was able to adapt his game to suit these new instructions whilst Kiwior impressed as a more orthodox left-back.
Equally, when Kai Havertz was signed, Arteta had a specific role for the German in mind. The original plan was for Havertz to form part of the midfield trio. However, the 24-year-old never looked entirely comfortable in this position.
When he got the opportunity to lead the line, though, the former Chelsea man exploded into life. Havertz has been shining as a striker for the last couple of months and is now arguably the first-choice centre-forward on the books at the Emirates Stadium.
Why Kai Havertz works so well as an Arsenal striker
The Arsenal team works well with Havertz serving as a focal point, but they have had to adapt to his presence at the top of the pitch. His aerial prowess and physicality allows the Gunners to go long and play for second balls more often, making Arteta’s team less predictable and more tactically versatile.
What’s more, with Havertz operating as a target man and occupying opposition defenders, he creates space for those around him, such as Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka, amongst others, to exploit. At one stage Havertz struck up a particularly effective partnership with Leandro Trossard.
By contrast, as is the nature of his game, Gabriel Jesus is more likely to drift and roam, often dropping deep, when he is operating as a striker. This allows the Brazilian to get on the ball more and involve himself in the build-up play, but has the knock on effect of leaving opposition defenders free to pick up and mark other players.
Kai Havertz hailed for his influence on Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka
Lewis Ambrose has now praised Havertz’s impact on the team. Speaking to Charles Watts on his Inside Arsenal YouTube channel, Ambrose said, “the movement has been brilliant…the option to go long and hit him with that. I think his pace is probably a little bit underrated too, if we do hit the channels…I just think that, as well as Havertz has been playing, it says even more about the way he’s been playing that Odegaard has hit a new level, Saka’s been on top form.”
“I think everyone else has stepped up a gear with Havertz playing up front, and the work that he does physically to tire defenders, the intelligence of him movement.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Arsenal ace Kai Havertz from his girlfriend to height