Kai Havertz Praises Mikel Arteta and Wants to Repay Arsenal Manager for Faith
Kai Havertz has lauded Mikel Arteta and wants to repay him for the faith and trust the Arsenal manager has put in the German international. Havertz joined Arsenal in a £65m deal from fellow London club Chelsea this summer, a transfer that divided opinion due to his mixed record with the Blues.
He can play in a number of attacking roles and was deployed as a centre-forward for most of last season – but could only conjure up nine goals across 47 games. Arteta wants to reshape Havertz, though, and deploy him on the left-hand side of a midfield three.
The 24-year-old has thrived in the position in pre-season, scoring in friendly wins over Barcelona and the MLS All-Stars.
Havertz Feels Supported by Arteta
‘I think he was giving me this message [of support] from the first second when I spoke to him,’ Havertz told Sky Sports about life under Arsenal boss Arteta. ‘The first time, I felt the support straight away. And I think this is very important for me as a player. He just gives the trust to me and I hopefully can give it back.’
Dietmar Hamann Tips Havertz for Big Season
Dietmar Hamann, meanwhile, is tipping his German compatriot Havertz to have a big season in north London. ‘Arsenal are a team that likes to pass the ball a lot more than Chelsea, and I think that will suit Havertz,’ the former Liverpool and Manchester City star said.
‘We will see the real Havertz that we saw at Bayer Leverkusen when he was 17 and scoring important goals… Havertz is the player to watch out for, he’ll be a different player this season coming.’
Arteta’s Faith in Havertz
Arteta’s faith in Havertz is clear and it looks like it could be a fruitful relationship for both parties. The German international has been impressive in pre-season and his ability to play in multiple positions could be a real asset for Arsenal this season. With the support of Arteta, it looks like Havertz could be set for a big season in north London.
The 24-year-old has already shown glimpses of his potential and if he can continue to develop under Arteta then Arsenal could have a real star on their hands. With the support of Dietmar Hamann and Mikel Arteta, it looks like Kai Havertz is ready to repay the faith shown in him by the Arsenal manager.