Arsenal forgotten man set for 'super important' role alongside new striker next season | OneFootball

Future of Mikel Arteta favourite has been questioned ahead of arrival of big-money forward - but he could give Gunners a different weapon

Havertz returned to action on Sunday when he played the last 15 minutes of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Newcastle, and his comeback was timely.

Kau Havertz made his comeback from injury against Newcastle on Sunday

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The original diagnosis when Havertz injured his hamstring in February was that he would miss the rest of this season after undergoing surgery.

It was also expected that his rehabilitation would extend into pre-season preparations for next season.

But Havertz has managed to return ahead of schedule and that is a boost for him given Arsenal plan to sign a striker this summer.

The 25-year-old will be fit and firing for whenever the competition arrives and - judging by the way he has used this time out - Havertz is up for the fight.

At the advice of Arsenal’s medical staff, Havertz has used his rehabilitation period as a chance to bulk up.

Arteta has noticed the difference and he believes the German has gone to “a different level” when it comes to his physicality.

“There’s been a transformation in his body,” Arteta said last week. “The last three years in his career have been so condensed that he hasn’t had time to do that and this has been a window and he really wanted to use it.

“He got on board with that, he worked hard, you can see his presence and I think he destroyed all the metrics that we had in the gym for the last 10 years. All of them - power, acceleration, muscle mass. The way that he has increased certain capacities in his body, his agility, he’s been incredible.”

Havertz transformed his body while he was out injured

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Arteta has always been a big fan of Havertz since he joined Arsenal two years ago from Chelsea for £65million.

Havertz ranks 21st for players to have featured the most times under Arteta during his time in charge of Arsenal - and that is with having missed 18 games this year because of his injury.

If he had been fit for those, Havertz would rank just outside the top 10 of players most used by Arteta, despite only joining the club four years into his time as Arsenal manager.

It is fair to ask, though, what happens to Havertz when a new No9 arrives this summer?

Havertz has been Arsenal’s preferred striker for the past 18 months, but his place would be under threat with a new arrival.

The competition, however, could be exactly what Havertz needs. It would drive him to raise his standards and also relieve some of the burden on his shoulders.

Havertz has had to cope with being the man to lead the line for Arsenal and, while he has performed well, at times he has looked burnt out and in need of support.

Mikel Arteta can be more fluid with his formation if Havertz plays

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One of the reasons Arsenal signed Havertz was his versatility, which could prove vital next season.

There is no reason he can’t play with a new striker, possibly in the No8 role he was originally bought for.

The fact Havertz has bulked up would help any such move and it would also give Arsenal more goals from midfield, which is something they have lacked this season.

There is scope as well for Arteta to be more fluid with his formation if Havertz plays.

One of his best runs of form this season was when Martin Odegaard was out injured from the back end of September to November.

Havertz scored five goals during that period, including four games in a row, and he excelled in a front two playing alongside Leandro Trossard.

The 4-4-2 formation used by Arteta was something new, but it could be a weapon next season if Havertz has a new No9 to play alongside.

Arteta is a big advocate of his side being unpredictable and Havertz is key to that due to his versatility and the way he can adapt to different roles, even in-game if required.

The temptation now would be to write the German off as Arsenal prepare to bring in a new striker, but that would be foolish.

Havertz has repeatedly proved people wrong during his career and the way he has returned from injury now suggests he is ready to do so again.

A new striker joining Arsenal this summer doesn’t have to spell the end for Havertz.