Havertz fires clear message to Arteta over Arsenal's search for a striker
Kai Havertz claims Arsenal have proved they were right not to splash the cash on a striker in the last transfer window.
Mikel Arteta was urged to buy a top goalscorer after Arsenal netted just five times in their seven games, culminating in their FA Cup defeat to Liverpool. They scored just once in the back-to-back Premier League defeats to Fulham and West Ham and the critics said Arsenal could not win one of the game’s big prizes without a proven marksman.
A sunshine training camp in Dubai sorted them out and the on-fire Gunners have banged in 21 in their last five games. Arteta always believed in his players and Havertz, who bagged the fifth goal at Burnley, claims the key is sharing the goalscoring burden and nine different players have netted during this hot run.
"It’s not the end now,” he said. “We keep being focused because I know you guys after one game without five goals you’re gonna write we need a striker!
“So we just work hard, enjoy ourselves on the pitch and that’s what we did today. We all trust ourselves and we know what quality we all have. We have to give trust to each other and that’s what we’ve done.
Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal line up as last-gasp January transfers are secured
“It’s not only because of the strikers that you don’t score goals, defenders can score goals for us. That’s so important.” Arsenal have climbed above Manchester City to second in the table, just two points behind leaders Liverpool, and Havertz played down any title talk.
“It’s too early to speak about that,” he said. “We try to just look game by game and then see where we go because now even in the league, there are Liverpool, City, Spurs, Aston Villa, they’re winning so many games.
“So it’s so tough. It makes no sense to look at them, we just look at ourselves, win the games and then see where we go.” Arsenal are the Premier League’s form team and they obliterated Burnley as the mercurial Martin Odegaard began the onslaught in the fourth minute.
Bukayo Saka also hit two goals in the Burnley win (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Bukayo Saka scored twice, including one from the penalty spot, to take his tally to six in his last four games, before Leandro Trossard and Havertz netted. Turf Moor started emptying of home fans when Trossard scored on 65 minutes and more went when Havertz capitalised on some awful Burnley defending to complete the rout 12 minutes later.
What few Clarets supporters were left at the final whistle booed and this was Vincent Kompany’s heaviest league defeat. Burnley are going down and they have lost an embarrassing 10 of their 13 home games.
Turf Moor is everyone’s favourite away ground and they have picked up a paltry five points at home. By the starkest of contrasts, Arsenal are perfectly placed to improve their Champions League record and they have not progressed past the last 16 since 2010 when they beat Wednesday’s opponents, Porto.
The Gunners have lost their previous seven last-16 ties and Havertz says they are in the mood to put that right. “We go into this game to win it 100 per cent,” he said. “We as a team, you know, have big goals. We said that before this season as well.
“These games are the most important, but also the nicest to play. We’re looking forward to Wednesday and we’ll work hard to be well prepared.”
and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
