When we signed Gabriel Jesus, the feeling was that we’d found a vital, polished stirker who could find the back of the net 20-25 times per season while adding title-winning experience to a callow, naïve side. That hasn’t quite come to pass. Maybe that’s down to the injuries the Brazilian has suffered since his arrival. Maybe that’s down to something deeper—there had been doubts about his finishing since his time at Man City. Now, amidst rumours that we might entertain offers, attention turns to an increasingly prolific, even-clinical attacker who’s scored or assisted in eight of his last 11 starts.

In case the image above didn’t clue you in, I’m referring to our own Kai Havertz. After three seasons in the Stamford maelstrom, he arrived as damaged goods, not the first player to struggle to justify the fee and wages his new club offered, and not the first to struggle to adapt to a role that lay outside his skill-set. Shoehorning him into the squad at LCM yielded decidely mixed results. However, ever since Arteta slotted him at the CF role, he’s seized the new role with relish if not abandon. During this little purple patch of his, he’s played three matches in midfield with just one goal to show for it. He’s played eight times at CF with seven goals and five assists. That’s not quite a preponderance of evidence given whom we’d faced, but the evidence is accumulating.

Check out this heatmap, courtesy of fourfourtwo:

That big red circle with the number 29 represents Havertz’s nominal position. The yellow and red areas indicate where he touched the ball. Notice that the typical false-nine area (and the right fullback area, for what that’s worth) is basically empty. Instead, Havertz is popping up everywhere. He’s almost literally everywhere except where you might expect a false nine to be.

I’ve referred to Havertz as a CF several times by now, but that’s not entirely accurate. Nor is it accurate to refer to him as a false nine. Check out his heat map against Tottenham (which, despite Arteta’s decision to concede possession, is fairly representative of his heat maps in our last six outings). That heat-map highlights his versatility and movement and relentless. Despite his languid style (I’ve compared him to Berbatov in the past), there’s a beguiling intensity to his play. His sh*thousery is almost off the charts. But for his size, he might rank as the best (worst?) since Jack Wilshere. Yes, yes, I know that Benny Blanco might like a word. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? I rest my case.

To date, Havertz’s best quality has also been his heaviest burden. I’m speaking of his versatility. He’s capable of playing almost anywhere across the front line and in midfield as well. There’s a certain jack of all trades, ace of none aspect to that, and this aspect was perhaps exacerbated during his time at Chelsea, where he had to endure no less than five managers (including Fat Frank twice) and was played all over the pitch but, again, was at his most-prolific when played as a centre-forward.

It’s not just the prolificity (prolificness?). It’s the attitude. He’s chippy, to put it mildly. During the 1-0 loss to Newcastle back in November, Havertz went in for a rough challenge. He got booked. So too did three Magpies for their remonstrations. Havertz never betrayed a single iota of emotion. This hasn’t always served him well, as he’s been guilty of going to ground too eagerly at times (getting booked for that), but it might be part and parcel of a cagey player who’s willing to explore the dark arts at least on occasion, and that’s an exploration we’d eschewed under Arsène’s pursuit of nobler, paladinesque ideals.

Kai Havertz was given the nickname “Alleskönner” by the German media. This term translates to “someone who can do anything.” It highlights his remarkable versatility and ability to excel in multiple positions on the pitch. Whether it’s his tactical flexibility, ball control, or adaptability, Havertz truly lives up to this moniker. Jack of all trades, ace of none. It seems more and more as if Arteta wants Havertz as his nominal centre-forward or false-nine. In that role, Havertz has played eight times at CF with seven goals and five assists. The maths are a little fuzzy and more than a little optimistic, but that computes to something on the order of 35 goals and 25 assists across an entire Prem season.

Like I said. Fuzzy. Optimistic. I’m not seriously calling for Havertz to obliterate records here. That said, it isn’t all that hard to imagine what he’d deliver once he’s settled into this nominal role. Given the market for top-shelf strikers, having spent £65 million for Havertz could go down as one of the deals of the decade.

If Arteta wants to commit to Havertz as the one who leads the line, in whatever shape, role, or form that takes, that would free up a massive amount of money for shoring up other positions (cough cough ahem right wnig). Signing a top-shelf, established striker would almost certainly surpass £100 million in fees, not to mention wages. In other words, playing Havertz up-top might reap more rewards than are immediately or directly measurable.

Havertz is just 24 (he’ll turn 25 in June, but I’ll refuse to indulge the “he’s __ until he’s __” trope). He’s still growing into his potential, finding his depth, exploring his potential—just as so many other players in this squad are doing. What am I on about? This: for as good as he’s been, it’s possible if not probable that he’s only just now scratching the surface of how good he can be.

All of this might amount to little more than a bit of fluff and folderol if we end the season without a league title, but, should that come to pass, we have to feel as if the future shines bright…