Kai Havertz Scout Report At Arsenal 2026/2027: Why His Unusual Profile Makes Him So Important For Mikel Arteta Tactics - Player Analysis

Kai Havertz is one of the more polarising footballers in the world.

His development from one of Europe’s most exciting young talents at Bayer Leverkusen, through an inconsistent period at Chelsea, to a more defined role at Arsenal has been unusual. 

At Leverkusen, he established himself as an elegant and intelligent attacking player, capable of drifting between the lines and influencing games from a variety of positions. 

His time at Chelsea was considerably less straightforward, with changes in position and inconsistent performances shaping much of his start to life in England.

At Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has gradually moved Havertz towards a more permanent role as a No. 9. 

The evolution has involved more than simply positioning him higher up the pitch.

Havertz has developed physically, becoming a significant aerial presence and a more effective target for direct play, while his technical background continues to influence the way he receives and combines with teammates.

His role at Arsenal represents the latest stage in a career that has rarely seen him fit neatly into one position.

Rather than being confined to one area of the pitch, Havertz has continued to drift between different zones and contribute across different phases of the game. 

The player who once made his name floating between midfield and attack has gradually become a more recognisable presence in the final third, without entirely losing the qualities that shaped his early career.

His role at Arsenal therefore reflects a broader evolution in his game, extending beyond the central areas typically associated with a conventional No. 9. 

This report examines Havertz’s contribution both in and out of possession before considering the importance of his role within Mikel Arteta’s tactical structure.

Kai Havertz Style Of Play In Possession

Havertz's physical development has made him a considerable aerial threat and an important outlet when opponents press high or defend man-to-man. 

Arsenal can play directly into him, either trusting him to win the first ball or using his ability to compete physically to create opportunities from second balls. 

This is illustrated by the lofted pass shown in the sequence below, where Havertz provides Arsenal with a direct route beyond the opposition press.

This allows Havertz to perform a role usually associated with a more traditional target man without completely sacrificing the technical qualities of a player who previously operated in midfield. 

He can drop centrally to create overloads, receive between the lines and link play, but he is also strong enough to compete with defenders in the air.

His ability to receive between the lines is particularly effective when the distances between defensive lines become large. 

He is not especially comfortable receiving in extremely tight spaces, but when there is room to turn and face forwards, his technical background allows him to provide Arsenal with an important route through the opposition structure. 

The next example below demonstrates this ability, with Havertz finding space between the lines before receiving in a position from which he can influence the next phase of the attack.

There is a slight paradox to Havertz's goalscoring.

He is not always a reliable finisher of chances, yet he consistently finds himself in goalscoring positions. 

His movement inside the box is a major reason for this.

He understands when to attack space and can change direction sharply, often remaining on the blindside of defenders when attacking aerial crosses.

Havertz is excellent at finding space in the penalty area.

His finishing range is varied, from chips and low finishes to driven efforts and placed shots with his left foot.

His right foot is less trusted, and he will often adjust his body to finish with his left.

His accuracy has been encouraging this season, with 64% of his shots currently finding the target, reflecting his ability to consistently test the goalkeeper when he gets into shooting positions.

His first touch is another major strength for a player of his size.

He can control long or awkward passes with different parts of his body, while his outside-of-the-left-foot control can be particularly impressive on occasion.

Havertz can receive on the half-turn and shoot almost immediately, allowing him to exploit valuable moments before defenders and goalkeepers can react and set themselves.

This is evident in the next example, where he controls the ball and produces a finish almost immediately, giving the goalkeeper little time to adjust.