“Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has strongly criticized Mikel Arteta for his continued use of Kai Havertz in a role that he believes is hindering Arsenalâs title challenge. Pochettino, who claims to have repeatedly warned Arteta that Havertz is not the type of player you can rely on to win titles, suggests that Artetaâs insistence on making his own decisions could ultimately cost him his job by January.
Itâs clear that Arsenalâs attacking play has been underperforming, and a tactical change is now essential if Arteta hopes to lead the team to glory. Specifically, Pochettino argues that Havertz should no longer be used in the false 9 position. Instead, the German striker should be played centrally at the front to keep opposition defenders under pressure and improve Arsenalâs attacking threat.
For weeks, Havertz and Leandro Trossard have been part of a fluid system that blends the roles of attacking midfielder and striker. However, this has led to confusion and inefficiency, as both players tend to drop deep or drift wide, leaving the penalty area vacant and preventing the attack from stretching the opposition. While there were some who were willing to accept this setup initially, the issues became painfully clear after the Newcastle match.
Havertzâs movement has been commendable, but his positioning as a striker has been all wrong. He frequently finds himself away from the goal, which is not where you want your main attacking player to be. Though Havertz isnât a traditional striker, the argument is that he should at least be used in a more central role, as he was last season when the team needed him to be a more direct goal threat.
Artetaâs refusal to play him in a traditional striker role is puzzling, especially when you consider how other top teams like Newcastle and Aston Villa play their own forwardsâAlexander Isak and Ollie Watkins are both utilized in roles that suit their strengths. The fact that Arsenal didnât sign a new #9 in the summer suggests they were convinced Havertz could fill that role, but his disappointing return of just one goal in the past five matches has only underscored the flaw in this approach.
Pochettinoâs message is clear: Arteta needs to play Havertz in the position where he can make the most impactâup front. By doing so, itâs hoped that Havertz will improve his goal-scoring form and, in turn, help Arsenal get back on track in their pursuit of the league title.”