Arteta says key moment will ‘change everything’ for Havertz at Arsenal

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is optimistic that Kai Havertz is about to step up his game.

Arsenal paid £65 million in the recent summer transfer window to secure the services of Kai Havertz from London rivals Chelsea. However, the 39-cap Germany international has not enjoyed the smoothest of transitions into life at the Emirates Stadium.

Havertz’s patchy early form for the Gunners has seen him come in for some criticism. The 24-year-old will now be hoping those teething troubles are behind him, and he will take great confidence from having scored his first goal for Arsenal against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.

The £280,000-a-week ace dispatched his penalty expertly against the Cherries, and his goal was greeted by a huge ovation from the Arsenal fans who made the trip to the Vitality Stadium. There is clearly a strong desire at the club to see Havertz flourish.

Mikel Arteta is certain that this goal can be something of a turning point for Havertz in his Arsenal career. As quoted by the club’s official website, the Spanish coach said after the match, “it will probably change everything, but first of all if he had any question marks about how we feel about him, how much we love him, how much we appreciate everything that he does, I think that’s out.”

“I think in sport, Usain Bolt said it once, I have to train four years to run nine seconds, sometimes you have to do a lot and you don’t see that, but in that moment you see it, I’m sure what he’s been through in the last few weeks, this moment is worth every moment of the other moments.”

Arsenal have a potential star in Havertz

If Havertz can now kick on and find his best form then that would be a huge boost for Arsenal. The attacker is incredibly naturally talented, and has the ability to become a key player for the Gunners, and provide goals and assists on a regular basis.

He has the raw attributes needed to thrive in the midfield role that Arteta has earmarked for him. The 6’4” ace has the power and physicality to defend from the front and force turnovers in possession in the opposition final third. Once on the ball in this area, he has the vision and creativity to engineer goalscoring opportunities.

The only thing missing from Havertz’s game at this stage seems to be self belief. Hopefully that will be much less of an issues in the wake of his goal against Bournemouth.