Rangers icon Ally McCoist has commended Kai Havertz for his exceptional performance as a center-forward in Arsenal’s 4-1 victory over Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday (February 24).
Havertz, who arrived at the Gunners in a potential £65 million deal from Chelsea last summer, was deployed as the number nine ahead of Gabriel Jesus for this weekend’s match. The 24-year-old found the net once and provided an assist for Bukayo Saka’s goal in the 65th minute of the game.
Impressed by Havertz’s adaptability in his new role against Newcastle, McCoist shared his admiration for the German’s performance during the halftime break, telling TNT Sports (h/t The Boot Room):
“While discussing Declan Rice and the lone forward strategy, I observed Havertz in that position, occasionally dropping back 10 to 15 yards. There were moments when he positioned himself slightly deeper than two of his midfield teammates.”
Acknowledging Havertz’s clever movement off the ball, McCoist continued:
“It must have been a daunting task for Newcastle defenders Sven Botman and Fabian Schar. He seamlessly blends into that space, leaving them unable to track his movements. Then suddenly, he reappears. Tonight, he’s executing that role exceptionally well.”
During his 76-minute appearance against Newcastle, Havertz boasted a pass completion rate of 87%, with 20 successful passes out of 23 attempted. Additionally, he managed one shot on target, created a scoring opportunity, won four out of 10 duels, and made two interceptions.
