I liked him at striker, held the ball up better than GJ or Eddie though I'd still prefer GJ to be playing.

Not been impressed so far in midfield, think he's been really poor and just looks lost, but willing to give him some time as Arteta clearly sees it, and we should trust his judgement.

I want him to do well, the same way I wanted Willian or Nicolas Pepe to do well at Arsenal.

Nothing would make me happier than to see him completely prove me wrong, but I don't know what his best position actually is and I've said all along that I don't think we should be the club trying to find out.

The blokes faaacking pants as a goalscorer, but would make a decent AM

The fact we’re only a couple of weeks into the season yet people are apparently hoping Havertz ‘proves them wrong’ sums things up.

Personally, I’ve no problem with us signing him. Not been amazing yet, but also nowhere near as bad as some have said.

yeah weird buy, get partey back in midfield

comment by Striketeam7 - There used to be a football club over there (U18109)
posted 15 minutes ago
The blokes faaacking pants as a goalscorer, but would make a decent AM
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmm he’s a crap goal scorer but he knows how to play as a 9. We have enough goals in other areas to make up for his wastefulness in front of goals (although he will definitely cost us with his wastefulness)

He's genuinely surprised me with how committed he is physically. I thought he was some weakling.

But that's not what we paid 65m for surely? He needs to start producing in the final third 😭

Doesn't really suit the slower build up play with Arteta. Needs the wide players to be busting lungs making runs beyond him during transitions

I don't think there's many, if any of us that doesn't want him to succeed. Granted its early doors but based on the first few games, and what we have seen from him at Chelsea, he doesn't seem suited to this midfield role. As it stands it seems like we are shoehorning him in there, whilst playing other players out of position to get him in the side.

Will be interesting when Zinchenko is back in the XI and we go back to last seasons back 4.

comment by Tu Meke (U3732)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
He's genuinely surprised me with how committed he is physically. I thought he was some weakling.

But that's not what we paid 65m for surely? He needs to start producing in the final third 😭
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Let’s be honest, the money could have easily been spent better elsewhere. But then we all said that about Ramsdale, White, Ode etc

I really think we need to swap Odegaard and havertz. Havertz will link better with saka on the right, martinelli will benefit with odegaard behind him.

But then I think jesus coming back will help havertz regardless of which side he plays on.

We really need him to come good. Ffs.

comment by Lexington 125.2 (U8879)
posted 3 hours, 24 minutes ago
The fact we’re only a couple of weeks into the season yet people are apparently hoping Havertz ‘proves them wrong’ sums things up.

Personally, I’ve no problem with us signing him. Not been amazing yet, but also nowhere near as bad as some have said.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We think alike about Havertz, Lex.

I was suprised that we signed him to be honest but every player deserve a fair chance.

In contrast to Bats I dont want him to see him as a CF bar an injury crisis there. We play in different formation if I understand Arteta rightly. So let's see what role will be given to Havertz.

Will give him some time to settles in before critising him.

He's played 3 games and tbh he's done ok in all 3, created a few chances and missed a few. He's been no worse or better than some others.

I've said it before the media have put a target on his back for some reason. Any mistake he makes will be highlighted whereas others who do the same will be let go.

I don't think I've been as p1ssed with a transfer since Danny Welbeck. No idea what Arteta/Edu was thinking - still don't really.

But, he's an Arsenal player now and should be supported - not asking for his head after 3 games. (What sort of idiot even does that??)

He hasn't been spectacular in those games, but he hasn't hindered us either. Some nice touches/passes, presses, and tackles. Could have done better in certain situations, and his finishing is definitely an additional training need.

I don't mind seeing him as the number 9 in certain games against clubs with an effective high press. He's a very good outball as shown against City. Otherwise it's the left number 8 which is where his primary position should be. He should be the starter in most home games, and even away against the so called lesser teams - with Rice going into the number 6 and Partey on the bench. When playing the big boys, though, he should be on the bench with a midfield of Ode, Partey and Rice. Same with away games against teams in form.

Until Havertz does some major fack ups on a regular basis then our fans need to lay off him. He's got enough to contend with from the media and opposition fanbases.

Weird article so early in the season. Playing Arteta’s style requires time. Similar to Pep’s. Hence why Zinchenko and Jesus fitted in very quickly but the whole process took 3 years to get there. He’s already replaced everything Xhaka does as far as I’m concerned. What Xhaka has defensively, Havertz makes up in other areas.

comment by Vladimikel Artutin - committing war crimes against football since 2019 (U18355)
posted 3 hours, 13 minutes ago
comment by Tu Meke (U3732)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
He's genuinely surprised me with how committed he is physically. I thought he was some weakling.

But that's not what we paid 65m for surely? He needs to start producing in the final third 😭
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Let’s be honest, the money could have easily been spent better elsewhere. But then we all said that about Ramsdale, White, Ode etc
----------------------------------------------------------------------

We were all delighted to sign Odegaard, and most of us hadn't watched Ramsdale and White closely enough to determine if they were value for money. The only concerns were from all the pundits saying we overspent on those two. Havertz' struggles in Chelsea were pretty well known to all and we've seen much of that struggle. So his signing (for so much money) is quite the headscratcher. Why we couldn't spend that money on a dynamic young forward or a striker who adds physical presence in the box and finishing is beyond me

There was a certain couple on here who didn't want us to sign Odegaard I ignored that bit on purpose.

comment by Tu Meke (U3732)
posted 2 hours, 3 minutes ago
There was a certain couple on here who didn't want us to sign OdegaardI ignored that bit on purpose.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't want us to sign him, I wasn't impressed with his loan spell here, there were a lot of people who didn't want us to sign him and preferred maddison, I'm not sure where the "we were all delighted to sign Odegaard" came from. Hindsight is a great thing

Tbf, I did also want Madison, he's a top player. But I was happy with odegaard.

Havertz' struggles in Chelsea were pretty well known to all and we've seen much of that struggle. So his signing (for so much money) is quite the headscratcher. Why we couldn't spend that money on a dynamic young forward or a striker who adds physical presence in the box and finishing is beyond me
----------------
Lets be honest Chelsea for the past 2 seasons have been a complete shambles so its pretty hard to judge a player.

comment by BO$$™ (U6401)
posted 16 hours, 51 minutes ago
Havertz' struggles in Chelsea were pretty well known to all and we've seen much of that struggle. So his signing (for so much money) is quite the headscratcher. Why we couldn't spend that money on a dynamic young forward or a striker who adds physical presence in the box and finishing is beyond me
----------------
Lets be honest Chelsea for the past 2 seasons have been a complete shambles so its pretty hard to judge a player.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the obvious thing Havertz is contending against. Any player, even a big money signing, coming from abroad, gets a bit of time to settle in (more than 2 fricking games anyway). If Havertz had just been signed straight from the Bundesliga, then you can guarantee the exact same performances would have had a positive slant put on them by fans who are just excited about a fresh exotic new signing.

But cos we know he was bang average for Chelsea, the obvious logical assumption is that he'll be bang average for Arsenal until proven otherwise. He's got negative credit.

That’s German for ‘the’ Havertz ‘the’

Palmers gets it

So looks like Bats was right. Havertz should have been our 9 since day 1. Bats was also right about Rice being signed to play higher up the pitch