Ange Postecoglou has suggested the part of Kai Havertz’s game which really impresses him, as he watched the Arsenal star lead the line for Germany in their last 16 tie at Euro 2024.
Germany are through to the quarter-final after a 2-0 victory over Denmark in controversial circumstances in Dortmund. It was Kai Havertz who scored the opening goal, finding the bottom corner from the penalty spot after Joachim Andersen had been penalised for a handball.
Havertz had forced Kasper Schmeichel into a superb save during the first-half after a Robin van Persie-esque volley from a wide angle. But he also missed a couple of really good chances which he should have converted.
That performance perhaps summed up what so many see from Havertz, particularly in an Arsenal shirt. He does so much good work, but he is also not a ruthless finisher – leaving Arsenal to consider moves for the likes of Benjamin Sesko this summer.
Ange Postecoglou praises one part of Kai Havertz’s game
Speaking on ITV (broadcast on 29/6; 20:51), Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou spoke about the difficulties some have judging Havertz, before expressing his view of the forward.
“I think with Havertz, he is one of those players where a lot of people because they can’t pigeon-hole him into one position, they struggle to find ways to kind of judge his contribution,” he said.
“One thing he does have is he is really smart with his movement. He always finds little areas to play it forward. Once he gets into the box, he is a decent finisher at times and then he brings other players into it. A lot of his work is about creating space for others.
“When you play Arsenal in particular, they don’t have this focal point where you can say we will shut down this area. They have got so much movement, and he is their catalyst to that. He has got the height, he has got the physical presence, and he is always present for the ball.
“He is one of those because you can’t sort of pin him down to one position, is he a midfielder, is he is a 10, is he a 9, when you are setting up against him, he can cause you a lot of problems.”
Arsenal are now considering taking big gamble
Arsenal are now facing a real gamble should they sign another striker either this summer or next year, as Havertz offers plenty and he stamped his authority on the number nine position in the second-half of last season.
However, it is hard to imagine that he is ever going to be the most prolific striker – he has managed to score more than 15 league goals in a season once so far in his career.
But if Arsenal do sign a more lethal goalscorer, they may well have to adapt how they are going to play as Havertz brings so much to the table, and finding someone who ticks all of those boxes is incredibly tough. Even Erling Haaland comes in for a lot of criticism for aspects of his game.