Kai Havertz thinks £30m Arsenal star is becoming seriously influential behind the scenes

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Kai Havertz is well on course to deliver the best goalscoring season of his career to date for Arsenal.

In 12 league games Havertz has scored five goals, a number that increases to nine across all competitions for Arsenal.

To date, Havertz recorded his best goalscoring league campaign for Bayer Leverkusen in the 2018/19 season, scoring 17 goals in 34 matches.

In the Premier League, Havertz will simply be trying to better the 13 goals he managed in his debut season at the Emirates Stadium.

Of course, those efforts will be helped by the return and glorious form of Martin Odegaard, Havertz’s partner up top.

Kai Havertz explains what Martin Odegaard offers Arsenal that no one else can

Odegaard has been brilliant for Arsenal since his return from a troubling ankle injury – Mikel Arteta’s side haven’t lost a game he’s started this season.

That being said, Havertz has spoken about Odegaard’s increasing presence as a captain both on and off the pitch right now.

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Speaking in a recent interview, Havertz said that his Norwegian teammate was increasingly vocal in the dressing room, someone the whole squad are grateful to have back.

Havertz said: “He’s someone that speaks a lot to us in the dressing room.

“On the pitch, he’s someone who doesn’t only step up with words, he also steps up with good actions, with taking the ball on the pitch in bad situations and that’s very important to us.

“I think you feel when he’s on the pitch and when he’s not on the pitch. He gives us so many different things with the ball and without the ball.

“When we press the goalkeeper or the defenders, he’s the first who goes there, who sprints at them.

“I think we are all very happy that he’s back and that we have him on the pitch.”

Mikel Arteta backs forgotten Arsenal star to succeed over festive period

As Havertz mentions, he’s not the only player who has been delighted to welcome Odegaard back into the team.

Bukayo Saka is so much better with Odegaard around, a trio who are vital to anything the Gunners want to achieve this season.

That being said, Arteta has backed a forgotten Arsenal star to play a key role over the festive period, someone who will be needed amid a busy fixture list.

It’s all looking very positive in N5 right now, a side who are buoyed by the return of their captain, and also benefiting from simply keeping 11 players on the pitch.