Kai Havertz has become a completely new player since joining Arsenal from Chelsea over a year ago. The German striker is now one of the Gunners’ best players.
Havertz has shouldered the goalscoring burden in this Arsenal team so well. Towards the end of last season, it was his goals that kept Arsenal in the title race until the last two games.
Mikel Arteta is happy to have Havertz in good form, and even challenged the German to score more goals for the club this season:
“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.”
Arsene Wenger does not think Kai Havertz is better than Europe’s best strikers
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger during the Emirates Cup match between Arsenal and Monaco at the Emirates Stadium, London, England on 2 August 2023. Copyright: xJoshuaxSmithx 37930031
Wenger was asked who he prefers out of Kai Havertz and Harry Kane. The former Arsenal boss was on pundit duty for BEIN during their Champions League coverage:
‘Havertz is more of a contributor to the all around game, defensively he works very hard, offensively he scores less goals than Kane and will never score the number of goals Kane scores. He’s more of a 10-and-a-half or a nine-and-a-half.
The Frenchman then explained what sets Kane aside from Havertz.
‘Kane is the centre forward. Harry Kane played for a long time in a team that didn’t win but they have not won since he has left.’
Arsenal striker is compared to Erling Haaland
After comparing Havertz to Kane, and explaining what makes both players different, Arsene Wenger also had some words to say about Manchester City striker Erling Haaland:
‘He is still has the instinct and the timing,’ said Wenger. ‘I’ve seen him this season score outstanding goals controlled with his left foot, finished with his right foot.
‘You see what is very good in the modern game as well Haaland is still a beginner in football.
‘He has exceptional quality but imagine he still has 13 or 14 years to play because today strikers can play until 35 and 36.
‘They learn in every game.’
Kai Havertz has seven goals this season and could have had one more midweek against Shakhtar. But Leandro Trossard took the penalty and missed, Mikel Arteta then revealed the penalty takers for the Gunners this season.
