Newcastle boss Eddie Howe provides Kai Havertz blueprint for Arsenal

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has provided Mikel Arteta with a blueprint of how to incorporate Kai Havertz into Arsenal's starting 11.

The Gunners are on the verge of completing a £65 million deal with Chelsea for Havertz, with the Germany international set to become Arteta's first signing of the summer.

According to The Athletic, the Arsenal boss was a "huge personal draw in terms of style and individual coaching, and there is a belief that Havertz will be maximised within a structured possession game."

While it is rumoured that the Spaniard will utilise Havertz as a No 8 as opposed to a No 9, the position he played for Chelsea.

The report adds: "That vision re-casts Havertz as a left-sided No 8 afforded the freedom to link play in the final third and join attacks from midfield, arriving late into the penalty area while Oleksandr Zinchenko or Kieran Tierney shift across from left-back into central midfield behind him."

It would appear Arteta is following in the footsteps of Howe, who used a similar technique with Magpies midfielder Joelinton.

Arsenal following Eddie Howe blueprint

Joelinton joined Newcastle from Hoffenheim in a deal worth around £40 million but struggled to meet expectations as a No 9, scoring just two Premier League goals in his first season at St James' Park.

Howe then decided to play the Brazilian in a deeper midfield role, where he has gone on to become a roaring success.

Other successful examples include Liverpool's Harvey Elliott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as well as Alex Iwobi for Everton. While Pep Guardiola has also used Phil Foden in the role at Manchester City.

In the meantime, Arteta is working on signing Declan Rice from West Ham, with the north London club expected to lodge a third bid for the 24-year-old after Manchester City saw their £90 million bid rejected on Monday evening.

Topics: Newcastle United, Arsenal, Eddie Howe, Mikel Arteta, Kai Havertz, Premier League, Football

Joe Adams

Joe is a Journalist for SPORTbible with a primary focus on football. He has previously covered a number of other sports including boxing, rugby and F1. Wishes he was born left-footed.

@joeadamsjourno