August 19th 2024.
Former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand recently revealed that he had a conversation with West Ham midfielder Declan Rice about Arsenal's new signing, Kai Havertz. Ferdinand shared that Rice spoke highly of Havertz and even claimed that the German forward is the team's top choice for the number nine position. This conversation came after Havertz scored his first goal of the season in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Wolves on Saturday.
Havertz joined Arsenal from Chelsea for a whopping £65 million and initially faced criticism for his slow start at the club. However, he proved his worth in the second half of last season, scoring nine goals and providing six assists in the final 14 games. This impressive performance helped Arsenal narrowly miss out on the title by just two points to Manchester City.
With the summer transfer window in full swing, Arsenal has been linked with various strikers, but pundits and fans alike have argued that the team needs a new center forward to challenge City. However, Ferdinand claims that Havertz has the full support of his teammates to lead the line and spearhead Arsenal's title charge this season.
Ferdinand shared that Rice told him, "Havertz is our guy," and added, "We don't need a number nine, Havertz is our guy." The former United player was surprised by the confidence exuded by Rice and admitted that he didn't know the team felt that way about Havertz. Ferdinand also pointed out that Havertz has been in great form, scoring 10 goals in his last 15 games.
Joleon Lescott, a guest on Ferdinand's podcast, also agreed with Rice's statement, saying that Arsenal doesn't need a traditional number nine like Erling Haaland. He believes that the team's shape would have to be different and that they need players like Gabriel Jesus and Havertz, who are versatile and can track back when needed.
Former Chelsea assistant manager Jody Morris also shared his views on the matter, citing Manchester City's previous title successes without using a recognized striker. He explained that a team can still dominate games without a traditional number nine, as City has done in the past.
Despite the opinions of experts like Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, who believe that Arsenal needs an out-and-out goalscorer, Ferdinand remains confident in Havertz's abilities after his conversation with Rice. He believes that the team sees the "little details" in Havertz's game every day and expects big things from him this season.
In conclusion, Havertz's impressive performance in the opening game of the season and the support of his teammates have cemented his position as Arsenal's top choice for the number nine position. While some may argue that the team needs a traditional striker, others, including former players and managers, believe that players like Havertz and Jesus can bring a different dynamic to the team and help them succeed in their title challenge.
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