Havertz made a big-money move from Chelsea to Arsenal this summer, but he has yet to fully get going as a Gunners player
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has launched a scathing attack on Arsenal's Kai Havertz, claiming that the German's best position is among the substitutes.
Havertz left Stamford Bridge this summer after a frustrating three years with the Blues, joining the Gunners in a £65m deal.
But the 24-year-old has yet to fully settle into Mikel Arteta's side, finding himself in and out of the starting 11.
Frank Leboeuf (Image credit: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
And Leboeuf – who played for Chelsea between 1996 and 2001, winning two FA Cups – thinks that's the best place for Havertz right now. He told ESPN FC:
"Maybe right now, on the bench [is best] because he doesn't disturb the others. We talked about it in pre-season when we knew he signed. His positioning is going to affect the rest of the midfielders: they are unbalanced because of him and Odegaard playing in almost the same line.
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Leboeuf didn't stop there, though; the Frenchman even went as far as to label Arsenal's signing of Havertz a mistake. He continued:
"What made Arsenal strong last season, Odegaard was on his own trying to create the game and the others were working for him. Maybe [Havertz could play] on the left, but when you have Trossard and Martinelli, I don't see any room for him. I think from Arteta it was a mistake to hire Havertz; I don't find any good position for him."
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It's hard to see Havertz going anywhere any time soon, though: he put pen to paper on a five-year deal at the Emirates Stadium.
Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...
