24-year-old compared with Arsenal icon Dennis Bergkamp due to two key attributes

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Kai Havertz has now been compared to Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp.

Kai Havertz has not made an electric start to life as an Arsenal player. Since his £65 million switch from Chelsea in the recent summer transfer window, the 24-year-old has struggled to produce his best form. 

Despite his struggles and the heavy criticism that Havertz has received, Mikel Arteta has shown plenty of faith in the German. He has started twelve matches for the Gunners so far this season across all competitions, and has provided one goal and one assist.

In the absence of the injured club captain Martin Odegaard, Havertz was once again included in the starting XI against Newcastle United on Saturday. Whilst the German struggled to make his presence felt in the final third, he produced a battling and tenacious display in the middle of the park. Plenty of Arsenal fans liked what they saw from Havertz at St James’ Park.

Arteta will still be wanting much more from the £280,000-a-week star, especially in an attacking sense. Given his raw talent and previous achievements, Havertz ought to be a real goal threat and creative force for the Gunners, even when tasked with performing in a midfield role. 

Kai Havertz unhelpfully likened to Arsenal great Dennis Bergkamp

One player who certainly could score and create for Arsenal was Dennis Bergkamp. The iconic Dutch attacker scored 120 goals and laid on 98 assists across 417 appearances for the north London club between 1995 and 2006.

Havertz has now been compared with Bergkamp. Speaking on talkSPORT’s Premier League Access All Areas podcast, former Premier League striker Dean Ashton said Havertz “goes about his business quietly, but I think he’s got that Bergkamp edge in terms of mentality and physicality.”

Clearly, Havertz has a long way to go before he can be considered close to Bergkamp’s level in terms of end product and overall quality. However, the pair do share some similarities in terms of their physical presence.

Havertz is also extremely technically gifted, like Bergkamp, though he has struggled to show that side of himself at Arsenal so far due to a lack of confidence. It is also arguable that being publicly compared to Bergkamp, given his recent struggles, is not at all helpful for Havertz.