Arsenal snapped up Germany international Kai Havertz from Chelsea earlier in the summer, and the 24-year-old has a lot to prove.
The former Bayer Leverkusen star played as a number 9 last term for the Blues and has largely featured in attack since moving to England.
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta is a fan of Havertz due to his versatility, and the Spaniard is expected to deploy him in various positions.
However, Borussia Dortmund star Julian Brandt believes Arsenal will win silverware if they play Havertz centrally.
“If he plays in the centre, he and Arsenal will enjoy great success together,” the former Leverkusen star told The Athletic.
“Chelsea interpreted his game completely differently, they made him a 9, more or less. He took to it well because he enjoys scoring goals and he’s superb in the air.
“But my honest, personal opinion is that he’s not a striker. He’s an 8 or 10, a player with an incredible feel for space and a rare talent: his first touch. He takes the ball with him in a way that leaves opponents stranded, they can’t get to him.
“He doesn’t have to dribble, or do step-overs, the pitch opens up for him because of his first touch. It’s a shame that they haven’t really seen that in him yet in England. I’m not sure why.”
Havertz has largely featured in midfield since joining Arsenal, playing in the position on his debut in the 1-1 draw against Bundesliga 2 side Nurnberg in Germany.
He grabbed his first goal for the North London club in the 5-0 win against MLS All-Stars, starting the game on the left of a three-man midfield before being pushed further up the pitch towards the end of the game.
The German also started in a three-man midfield alongside Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice in the 2-0 loss to Manchester United in the next game.
With Rice and Odegaard guaranteed places in the starting XI, Havertz will be challenging Thomas Partey and Jorginho for a place in the line-up anytime Arteta opts to play him in midfield.
He impressed as a number 8 while playing behind a striker during his Bundesliga days, bagging 38 goals in his last two seasons with Leverkusen.
Arsenal could do with such a return in front of goal from their £65 million signing, and the onus is on Arteta to get the best out of him.
