Alan Shearer warns Kai Havertz he won’t become a regular starter for Arsenal
Arsenal star Kai Havertz scored his first goal for the club in Saturday’s 4-0 win at AFC Bournemouth, but Alan Shearer has warned him that he will not become a regular starter for the Gunners. Havertz joined Arsenal this summer in a £65 million deal from Chelsea, but his three-year spell at Stamford Bridge was largely underwhelming.
The Germany international has faced criticism already this season as Mikel Arteta continues to mould him from a forward into more of a midfield player. Despite his confidence-boosting goal at the Vitality Stadium, Shearer feels that Havertz still needs to improve and does not see him becoming a regular starter.
Shearer’s Warning
‘There is definitely a player in there, but when you look at the numbers, his ability, that doesn’t match those numbers,’ Shearer told Match of the Day. ‘[His numbers] need to improve. You know that you have to pay £60 million, £70 million, £80 million for a squad player nowadays. He is going to play his part, but whether he will be a regular or not, I don’t think so.’
Arteta’s Reaction
Arteta, meanwhile, feels Havertz’s first goal for Arsenal will ‘change everything’ for the 24-year-old after his slow start at the Emirates. ‘I’m so happy with our supporters the way they made [Havertz] feel [today],’ Arteta said after the win over Bournemouth. ‘If there’s a player who deserves that it’s him. Probably it will change everything. If he had any question marks about how we feel about him they are out.’
The Transfer That Raised Eyebrows
Havertz’s transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal raised eyebrows given that he was largely underwhelming in his three-year spell at Stamford Bridge. His goal against Bournemouth was a confidence-boosting moment for the 24-year-old, but Shearer has warned him that he will not become a regular starter for Arsenal unless his numbers improve.
Arteta, however, believes that Havertz’s goal will ‘change everything’ for the German international and that any question marks about how Arsenal feel about him are now gone. It remains to be seen if Havertz can live up to Shearer’s expectations and become a regular starter for Arsenal.