Arsene Wenger was asked to choose between which centre forward he’d prefer to select out of Harry Kane and Kai Havertz
Arsene Wenger has praised Kai Havertz for his contribution to Arsenal’s recent success but fears he will never develop into a prolific goalscorer.
The former Chelsea star made a slow start to his Gunners career and struggled to adapt to the demands of the midfield role he had been earmarked for upon his arrival.
Mikel Arteta’s decision to abandon that experiment and deploy the Germany international as a centre forward has transformed the 25-year-old’s fortunes and he is now among the first names on the Arsenal team sheet such has his form been since the turn of the year.
Indeed, it came as huge surprise on Tuesday night when Havertz passed up the opportunity to score for a seventh home game in a row when he deferred to Leandro Trossard and allowed his teammate to take a penalty against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Trossard missed from the spot and as a result Arsenal were forced to cling on for victory and may well have avoided such a tense finale had Havertz, who boasts an excellent record from 12 yards, taken on the responsibility in the absences of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
Wenger believes Havertz’s all-round contribution to Arsenal’s cause means he merits such a prominent place in Arteta’s plans, but cautioned that expectations must be tempered when it comes to his goalscoring output.
‘That depends on the way you want to defend or the way you want to play,’ he told beIN Sport when asked who he would pick given the choice between Havertz and England captain Harry Kane.
‘Havertz is more of a contributor to the all around game, defensively he works very hard, offensively he scores less goals than Kane and will never score the number of goals Kane scores. He’s more of a 10-and-a-half or a nine-and-a-half.
‘Kane is the centre forward. Harry Kane played for a long time in a team that didn’t win but they have not won since he has left.’
Wenger, meanwhile, continuing the discussion about modern strikers waxed lyrical about Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland who returned to form in his side’s crushing 5-0 win over Sparta Prague last night.
‘He is still has the instinct and the timing,’ said Wenger. ‘I’ve seen him this season score outstanding goals controlled with his left foot, finished with his right foot.
‘You see what is very good in the modern game as well Haaland is still a beginner in football.
‘He has exceptional quality but imagine he still has 13 or 14 years to play because today strikers can play until 35 and 36.
‘They learn in every game.’
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