Ben Foster says he has the same problem with Kai Havertz ‘every time’ he watches him for Arsenal

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This time last year, you couldn’t move for people criticising Kai Havertz at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta’s decision to sign the German from Chelsea was constantly being questioned.

After a tough start, Kai Havertz was getting the Mesut Ozil treatment in north London – he was being scrutinised far more intensely than his Arsenal teammates.

Fast forward a year and Havertz is now widely celebrated, one of Arteta’s most consistent performers.

Alan Shearer called Havertz incredible recently, something you would have never heard in 2023.

Arteta’s patience and belief in Havertz was ultimately what turned things around – he refused to drop the Arsenal man despite the noise, eventually finding a role for him as a false nine.

Fortunately, Havertz is now setting records at Arsenal, even if Ben Foster has managed to find one weakness in his game.

Ben Foster thinks Kai Havertz regularly wastes chances at Arsenal

Speaking on his podcast, Foster changed the tone of the usual Havertz talk right now, saying he actually had one complaint about the striker.

The pundit thought that Havertz often needs four chances before he finds the back of the net at Arsenal, perhaps feeling that he’ll never match the ruthlessness of an Erling Haaland.

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Foster said: “For me, it’s four good chances to a goal for Kai Havertz, that’s how it feels to me. Every time I watch him he has so many good chances and he will only ever put one of them away.”

Odd criticism, especially considering Havertz finished superbly against Southampton last weekend to inspire Arsenal’s 3-1 comeback.

The German hasn’t been prolific in his career to date, but hasn’t necessarily been known for missing clear-cut chances in north London either.

Statistics suggest that Kai Havertz can still improve in front of goal

Looking at Havertz’s xG numbers so far this season, Foster might actually have a point.

According to Understat, in his seven games Havertz’s xG has been 5.69, which has resulted in just four goals.

An underperformance that is similar to Ollie Watkins (+1.38) and Nicolas Jackson (+1.27) but one that sets him apart from Erling Haaland.

Haaland has scored 10 goals in seven games from just 6.06 xG, a remarkable level of finishing.

And whilst no one is expecting Havertz to match Haaland – the Arsenal forward also has several other strong facets to his game, it is an area he can perhaps improve.

That being said, given Havertz has just scored six goals in six consecutive games at the Emirates Stadium, this discourse does also seem incredibly harsh.

Havertz’s game is more than just goals, a duel monster who is also incredibly adept at bringing his teammates into the game.