Arteta: “He’s so strong” Kai Havertz conveys a new “feeling” October 2nd, 2024, 2:24 p.m. Nobody doubts Kai Havertz’s footballing qualities. But when it comes to his instinct for goal, he has repeatedly reached his limits recently. At Arsenal FC, the DFB attacker is now discovering a whole new quality – much to the delight of his coach. Kai Havertz closed his eyes. He blindly headed the ball past the approaching fists of Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the goal – and with the lead paved the way for Arsenal FC’s 2-0 (2-0) victory over Paris Saint-Germain. The national player opened the hunt for the title in the Champions League. With a new quality. “He’s so strong. His football mind and his work ethic are unbelievable,” enthused Gunners coach Mikel Arteta: “He’s so intelligent in the way he occupies the spaces.” However, Havertz has been showing all of this for years. Something else is new: “Now you have the feeling that if he is near the penalty area, he will score.” This was exactly the feeling he hadn’t always conveyed before. Arsenal have now scored five goals in nine games this season across all competitions, plus one assist. His poor conversion of chances had become a problem, particularly with the German national team during the European Championship. Havertz scored the goal – but not out of the game. As a penalty taker, he scored reliably when the game was lacking. He also scored with a penalty in the first Nations League game after the tournament, in the 5-0 win against Hungary. “Still a long way to go” Now Havertz shows a different picture. “Perfect evening under the floodlights,” the “Man of the match” himself posted on Instagram afterwards. In that light of the spotlights, Havertz, now co-captain of the DFB team, had the greatest moment of his career so far: in 2021, he went around Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson and shot Chelsea to victory in the premier class, 18 years after he was at the age of started playing club football four years ago in the 6,000-person town of Mariadorf near Aachen. The move is painted on a pedestal in his house. On it is a replica of the pot with handles, his new, old goal. “It’s a nice feeling,” Havertz said recently: “But it would be even nicer to do that with Arsenal. It would mean a lot more.” Fans have been arguing about whether London is red (Arsenal) or blue (Chelsea) for years – and will probably do so forever. In any case, Havertz has made a name for himself, and not just because of his move between teams for around 75 million euros in the summer of 2023. “It’s a long way, but I think we’re all ready for it,” said Havertz. Coach Arteta has given the Gunners a winning mentality that was long thought lost. A decisive factor for this is Havertz. The 25-year-old has scored in every home game so far. It should also work outside the Emirates Stadium by May 31, 2025 at the latest – in the Champions League final in Munich’s Allianz Arena.
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Arteta: “He’s so strong”: Kai Havertz gives a new “feeling”
