Kai has Arsenal flying high as Emirates career takes off

Kai Havertz's improvement has been one of the stories of Arsenal's season.

The German has started nine of the Gunners' 10 matches this calendar year and is in superb goalscoring form, most recently netting a crucial winner against Brentford on Saturday.

Ahead of tonight's Champions League clash against Porto, we analyse how the German's Emirates career has taken off.

Immediate impact

There have been several factors behind a run of form that has seen Arsenal win their eight Premier League matches in 2024 by an aggregate score of 33-4.

But considering Havertz has started seven of those games — only missing the unconvincing 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest — his reintroduction must be considered among the biggest.

The German had only played nine of their previous 16 league outings from the start — a reflection of how slowly he started life with the Gunners.

But having initially been used in midfield, switching to centre forward in January has got his Emirates career moving.

Best position

Mikel Arteta's tactical change — which also saw Jorginho step into midfield — has transformed Arsenal's season.

The Gunners have a formidable base in the middle of the park with Declan Rice partnering the Italian.

And fellow midfielder Martin Odegaard now has the freedom to join Havertz between the lines in a shape that now resembles a 4-4-2 as much as what is perceived as a 4-3-3.

With Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard offering threat from wide areas, the multitude of passing and crossing options has given the Premier League leaders — and their starting forward — a new lease of life.

Goal glut

Having initially operated as Granit Xhaka's replacement on the left side of a midfield three, playing up front has also unlocked Havertz's goalscoring potential.

The 42-cap international has netted in four of his last five games and in all of his last three, with Saturday's dramatic headed winner against Brentford the latest example of how he can sniff out chances.

He has taken 15 shots in his last six matches — an average of 2.5 per game that would rank him in the top 20 of the division across the whole campaign — while his expected goals tally of 3.69 in 2024 is bettered by only 10 players.

Considering he is also doing plenty for the league leaders in terms of pressing and build-up play, that is a very solid contribution.

Hard to believe

Havertz's boss is delighted with the way he has recovered from a sticky start to gain cult hero status in North London.

 Arteta was aware of Arsenal fans' uncertainty in the early stages of the season but believes they are now seeing the best of the former Chelsea man.

He said: "If somebody told me after the first two or three months that the whole stadium would be singing his song with that passion, I would have found it hard to believe.

"That's what happens to good people. He’s an exceptional player. When he starts to score goals and everything starts to flow people feel connected with him."

Havertz may need to star again as Arsenal aim to overturn their 1-0 deficit to Porto in the Champions League last 16 this evening.