Mikel Arteta responds to fears Arsenal fans are already turning on Kai Havertz
Mikel Arteta insists that the goals will soon start flowing for Kai Havertz amid criticism from Arsenal fans.
The £65m signing from Chelsea has endured a tricky start to life across the capital. After three Premier League games, he has yet to contribute to a goal for the Gunners.
That run continued for the 24-year-old during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Fulham at the Emirates Stadium. He was handed a place in the starting line-up by Arteta but was dragged off in place of Fabio Vieira after less than an hour, with his performance garnering considerable criticism from some quarters.
Infamous Arsenal fan Piers Morgan was particularly outspoken on Havertz’s display. Taking to Twitter, he wrote: I don’t get Arteta changing our whole system to accommodate Havertz. Just isn’t working.
“Put Gabriel back in next to Saliba, move White to right back, and stick Partey in the middle where he belongs. And take off Havertz.”
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Meanwhile, former Spurs striker Darren Bent was also highly critical of the German’s lack of a telling contribution. He wrote: “I'll always back player that play for your club, But Havertz isn't working in this arsenal team, the Midfield has no balance and right now he's offering nothing. Fair play to Fulham though.”
Kai Havertz has yet to score his first goal for Arsenal (Getty Images)Who was your man-of-the-match in Arsenal's draw against Fulham? Share your thoughts in the comments below
In the face of growing criticism, Arteta insists that Havertz will forge an important role for himself in the Arsenal side. Asked if he was worried if the crowd was turning on the ex-Chelsea man, he replied: “No, I saw an action when he played backwards and he could have turned.
“That’s more I think the demands of everybody to play forward and to impact the game in the final third because we had the urgency to win.”
Arteta was then asked if he was confident if Havertz will soon win over the Arsenal faithful. “Yes I think so. I think he’s done already really good things,” he said.
“Today it was tough in certain moments. He got in great areas and the ball didn’t arrive. In a lot of situations he should have scored a lot of goals already this season. That’s the thing that is missing there.”
Havertz will continue his pursuit of a first Arsenal goal next weekend. The Gunners welcome Manchester United to the Emirates on Sunday.
The German has scored never managed to score against the Red Devils during his career in the Premier League so far. He netted nine goals in all competitions last term for former club Chelsea.
Academy graduates Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah are the Gunners’ top scorers so far this term with two strikes apiece. Both of them found the net in Saturday’s draw against Fulham.
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