Sky Sports pundit Darren Bent has said that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta needs to drop Kai Havertz from the starting lineup against Manchester United.
The former Tottenham Hotspur striker has said on Sky Sports News (5:20pm, August 26, 2023) that Kai Havertz did not play well for Arsenal against Fulham on Saturday, adding that manager Mikel Arteta needs to drop him against Manchester United next weekend.
Arsenal played out a 2-2 draw with Fulham at the Emirates Stadium in North London in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Gunners will take on United at home in the league next Sunday.
Havertz started for Arsenal against Fulham in the London derby on Saturday.
Criticism for Arsenal summer signing Kai Havertz
The Germany international, who joined the Gunners from Chelsea in the summer transfer window, started on the left of a midfield-three in a 4-3-3 formation.
Havertz struggled to make an impact and was taken off on 56 minutes.
Bent was following the match for Sky Sports News, and the former Spurs striker was not impressed with the German, saying that Arsenal need to change their lineup for the match against United.
The pundit said about Havertz, as transcribed by Metro: “I think Arteta is having the same problems that Chelsea found out where do you play him? He’s not a natural No.9 he’s like a No.10 but Odegaard plays there.
“You’re almost accommodating him just to get him in the team but when you look at the balance of the side out of possession it’s all over the place I think you need to get Odegaard, Partey and Declan Rice and then work from there.
“At the moment he’s a passenger, he’s got no confidence and that’s unfortunate. I’ve been there, it’s tough. Players are rolling him the ball and he’s taking the wrong option, giving the ball away, not tracking runners.
“He found it really difficult today and the next game which is against Manchester United they’re going to have to make changes.”
We believe that Arteta needs to take Havertz out of the starting lineup against Manchester United.
While the German is a very good player, he is not playing well at the moment and is not actually being played in his best position.
Havertz is a number 10, but he is being pushed wide or is being deployed as a false 9.
That is not his game.
It seems as though Arteta is starting Havertz just because Arsenal signed him this summer.
Winning against United even at home will be tough, and Arsenal simply cannot have a player in the team who is not performing.
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