Arsenal have struggled to score goals in recent weeks, and whilst a lot of blame has been put on the attack, there is also little creativity coming from the midfield.
Kai Havertz arrived in the summer, and initially struggled before an improvement saw him score three times in five Premier League games.
However, after missing the home defeat to West Ham through suspension, he returned to the starting lineup against Fulham, but failed to contribute anything of note as Mikel Arteta’s side were beaten at Craven Cottage.
He has now been criticised again, as the Arsenal squad goes under the microscope to try and figure out where things have gone wrong.
Kai Havertz slammed for lack of contribution
NBC Sports Broadcaster Robbie Mustoe has now taken aim at the German, claiming that Havertz does not offer enough in the Arsenal midfield.
“They still look so flat, there was no cutting edge to their attacking play,” he stated of their display at Fulham.
“The struggles of Martinelli continue, the struggles of Kai Havertz continue and this is what it is, he’s not effective, doesn’t do anything in there.”
Havertz was substituted against Fulham after a very quiet display, in a game where the whole left side of Jakub Kiwior, Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli were particularly poor.
Does Havertz offer enough in the Arsenal midfield?
Havertz’s improved form in recent weeks meant that fans began to warm to him after an initial slow start, but his last two performances have seen his confidence fade again.
Arsenal suffered creative issues against Fulham, and Havertz did not contribute anything going forward, creating just one chance with an expected assist value of 0.01, whilst completing just two passes in the final third.
The 24-year-old is passive on the ball, and whilst he is playing in a position previously occupied by Granit Xhaka, this lack of creative contribution is holding Arsenal back.
With Emile Smith Rowe knocking on the door for a starting spot, Havertz could be in danger of being dropped if Arsenal continue to struggle in midfield whilst he fails to impose himself when on the ball.
Xhaka has been sorely missed in the middle of the park despite Declan Rice’s impressive start to life in North London, and Havertz is very far from justifying the substantial transfer fee spent on him to replace Xhaka’s influence on and off the ball.
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