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Mikel Arteta knew change from ‘toxic’ environment at Chelsea would benefit Arsenal star

Since joining Arsenal last season, Kai Havertz has scored 17 goals in the Premier League. His highest tally at Chelsea was eight league goals in the 2021/22 season.

The German has become the figure head of the Arsenal attack, which finished last season with 91 goals, the second highest scorers in the league behind Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta challenged Havertz to score 20 goals this season after his bright start to the campaign:

“First of all, because he’s so good, because he wants it so much and because he’s surrounded by great players around him. The fact that he’s gone through some difficult moments just made him a better player, and a great person I think.

“He certainly has all the qualities and he certainly has the ambition to [score 20 goals a season]. In the end, scoring goals sometimes are very small details and a lot of things have to go for you, but he’s got it and his mindset has changed a lot in regards to that. He certainly has ability to do it in my opinion.”

Mikel Arteta points out the moment everything clicked for Kai Havertz

Last season, Havertz had a slow start. He only scored two goals between September and December. Most of that was down to being played as a midfielder under Mikel Arteta.

Arteta believes the game against Bournemouth last year was when everything started to change for the German:

“I think that was a turning point, for sure,” Mikel Arteta said. “The players took ownership, which is the best thing. They decided to do something for the player. That straight away made him feel special, it made him feel respected and admired. Everybody was willing and wishing the best for him. He delivered.

“That day, the connection towards the supporters went to a different level as well and everything started to click. Since then, the story is unbelievable. His involvement in every match, what he produces to help us win matches is incredible and very positive obviously.”

After January, Havertz went on an incredible run where he scored nine goals in the league.

German forward is a role model at Arsenal

Aside being great on the pitch, Mikel Arteta said Kai Havertz is a solid example of what it means to be an Arsenal player.

“I think he’s an amazing role model,” Mikel added. “The way he behaves every day, the way he is as a person, the way he lives his life, how much he loves to play football to compete. Again, part of that at this level is to handle and manage difficult situations. I think he’s an amazing example of that.

“We believed that he could do it. He had qualities that we were certainly lacking but it was a big question mark because he wasn’t producing what we required at this level a year ago, two years ago. We believed that a change of environment could affect him in a really positive way.

“You have a player that is going to try his very best to try and accomplish the objectives and then you have to make it work. It was a difficult start, but at the moment we’re in a great place.”

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