Kai Havertz has had a tough start to his Arsenal career, and he has faced criticism for his disappointing performances so far.
The Germany international is yet to score or assist in four Premier League starts, and has been criticised for his lack of contribution on the ball, with Arsenal’s fluidity in attack suffering as a result of his lack of intensity.
Speaking in a press conference with the German national team, Havertz has admitted that he is aware of the criticism, but is “relaxed” about his current situation.
“Sure, things like that keep you busy,” he stated of the criticism.
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“But I’ve often had a phase and you often only see the negative. It’s not the first club where I’m starting over.
“Of course you want to be successful as quickly as possible, but I know that there are phases like that. I try to approach it in a relaxed manner.”
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Can Havertz silence his critics?
Criticism at this stage of the season may be harsh and Havertz may need more time to adapt to Mikel Arteta’s system, but the best way he can silence the noise is to do his talking on the pitch.
On the pitch, he appears low on confidence and is failing to impose himself on the ball at all. This was summed up in a moment during Arsenal’s victory over Manchester United, where the ball fell to him in the box, and he missed the ball completely when attempting to shoot.
Arsenal have enjoyed their best attacking moments in recent games after he was substituted off, and at times he has been a complete passenger in possession. He was brought in for huge money by Arteta, who believes that he has the talent to succeed at the club, and he has to now repay the faith shown in him.