Mikel Arteta has now revealed what he said to Kai Havertz before Arsenal faced Manchester United in the Premier League today.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game Mikel Arteta said that he warned Havertz that things will be tough in the beginning.
And in a pretty unique analogy Arteta compared Havertz’s start at the club to when he first met his wife.
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Arteta said: “I said to him yesterday, things are hard in the beginning.
“When I met my wife, in the beginning it was hard to conquer her and I had to try and keep messaging.
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“In the end, she said yes, she wanted to be together and it was beautiful.
“If it is a yes on the first day, it is not that great. I think the crowd was really good with him today.”
And Arteta’s light-hearted response was perhaps intended to protect Havertz who did have another difficult afternoon.
Gary Neville was one pundit who was quick to criticise Havertz for a glaring miss in the first half against United.
Arteta warned Havertz that it will take time before thrives at Arsenal
Considering Havertz is only five games into his Arsenal career, he probably should be afforded a little time.
He is already a player who has been heavily scrutinised since arriving, perhaps because of his large transfer fee.
But he was also always going to be in the spotlight having joined from a fierce rival in Chelsea.
However, Mikel Arteta seems determined to give Havertz the best platform to succeed at Arsenal.
And his post-match comments today are much in line with that brief.
Arteta will know the pressure that Havertz is under and will be doing all he can to relieve it.
Havertz hasn’t set the world alight thus far in his Arsenal career but has now won four of his first five games – something that should afford him more breathing room.