Legendary former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has now had his say on one player who has caught his eye recently.
Ian Wright has been impressed by what he has seen from Arsenal star Kai Havertz in the final third in recent weeks.
The German attacker has been in fine form of late. Havertz achieved a personal first in the Premier League against Brentford last time out, as he netted in his fourth successive league match for the first time in his career in English football.
It took the 24-year-old a while to find his feet at Arsenal after his arrival at the Emirates Stadium from Chelsea in the recent summer transfer window. Mikel Arteta kept faith in him though. Havertz came in for plenty of criticism in his early days at Arsenal. He now looks settled in north London though, and he is a hugely important part of the team.
In recent weeks, whilst Gabriel Jesus has been sidelined by injury, Havertz has been used as a false-nine, which has had multiple positive consequences. As a target man, Havertz gives the Gunners a focal point, as he is able to use his aerial prowess and hold-up ability to bring his teammates into play. With his starting position now being more advanced, Declan Rice has also been able to push further up the pitch to great effect. The former West Ham United man has shown he can make a real impact in the final third, whilst Jorginho is trusted to protect the back four at the base of the midfield trio.
Ian Wright expects Kai Havertz to rise to big occasion with Porto clash looming
Havertz is likely to keep his place as the spearhead of the Arsenal attack when the Gunners welcome Porto the Emirates Stadium for the second-leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash this evening. The pressure is on Arsenal in this match, as the Portuguese outfit hold a 1-0 aggregate advantage heading into the encounter. Havertz, like the rest of the Gunners’ attacking contingent, will need to be at his best if Arteta’s men are to secure to passage to the quarter finals of Europe’s elite club competition.
Wright has now given his verdict on what makes Havertz such an effective presence at the top end of the pitch. Speaking on Sky Sports, the former all-time leading Arsenal goalscorer said, “he’s a big game player. He’s our main focal point, he can come off and link play, he can intercept, he can do everything. In this instance…he gets in there in front of Jesus, who is the centre-forward, and that is what I’m pleased with Kai, he’s able to go in there and make the decision…it’s a big goal.”
The Gunners have big games against Porto and Manchester City coming up, and will be looking to Havertz to make an impact.
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