Kai Havertz Joins Arsenal: Paul Merson Reacts to Gunners’ New Signing
Paul Merson has given his verdict on Arsenal’s decision to sign Kai Havertz from Premier League rivals Chelsea. The Gunners completed a £65m deal for the 24-year-old German international last week, handing him a five-year contract at the Emirates Stadium.
Havertz spent three years at Stamford Bridge, scoring 19 goals in 91 Premier League games and the winner in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City. Despite a mixed spell in west London, Chelsea were reluctant to sell the midfielder but changed their mind as they realised he was unwilling to sign a new deal.
By becoming Mikel Arteta’s first signing of the summer, Havertz joins an Arsenal side that finished second in the Premier League last season, securing a return to the Champions League for the first time in six years.
Merson admits Havertz flattered to deceive last season as Chelsea finished just 12th in the Premier League but is nevertheless adamant the German will thrive at his former club Arsenal. He wrote on Twitter: ‘Although he didn’t have his greatest season last year, believe me Kai Havertz will make Arsenal a better team. Good signing.’
The Impact of Kai Havertz at Arsenal
Havertz said he was ‘super excited’ to join Arsenal and desperate to win trophies under Arteta. He added: ‘It’s super exciting for me to be joining this amazing club and to be part of the Arsenal family. This club has such a big history, and I hope we can achieve lots of things. The mentality in the Arsenal squad is very high and you can feel that. That was one of the reasons why it has been so hard to play against Arsenal recently.’
Gunners boss Arteta, meanwhile, said of Havertz’s arrival: ‘Kai is a player of top quality. He has great versatility and is an intelligent player. He will bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield and variety to our play. We welcome Kai and his family to Arsenal Football Club and we are all excited to start working with him when we start pre-season training soon.’
With Havertz now in the Arsenal squad, there is a real sense of optimism surrounding the club and their chances of success next season. The Gunners have been crying out for a creative midfielder for some time and in Havertz they have found one who can unlock defences and provide a goal threat from midfield.
The German international is also a versatile player who can play in a number of positions, which will be a huge bonus for Arteta as he looks to build a team capable of challenging for major honours next season.
Conclusion
Kai Havertz is an exciting addition to the Arsenal squad and one that could prove to be a key player for the Gunners next season. Paul Merson is right to be optimistic about the signing and it will be interesting to see how Havertz fares in his first season at the Emirates Stadium. With Arteta at the helm, there is no doubt that Arsenal have the potential to challenge for major honours next season and Havertz could be the man to help them do it.