02 September 2023 , 05:49
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Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal fans to show some “love” to Kai Havetz.
Gunners star Havertz, 24, has yet to convince Arsenal fans following his £65m move from Chelsea this summer. But Arteta gave a glowing endorsement of Havertz’s qualities and also pleaded with supporters to show patience because it is only three games into the Premier League season.
Arsenal boss Arteta said: “It’s difficult to ask more of our supporters and our people, but my feeling is give him love and we’ll get the best out of him. I think we have some very beautiful examples in the last years with players that we have given a lot of support and got behind them, and they have felt that love and they just exploded.
“I will stick to that because not everyone is going to be willing Arsenal to do well, but the ones that have their heart and soul in this club want the best for the club. So let’s do it because there’s a lot there for him to give us.”
Arteta also reeled off a whole host of names - including Martin Odegaard - who took time to settle, find their best position and also become firm fans’ favourites. Havertz, a Germany international who won the Champions League with Chelsea, has started his Arsenal career on the left of midfield but Arteta also says he has a “phenomenal” football brain which will allow him to play in many different positions.
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Arteta said: “It’s more than Odegaard. And with Gabriel Magalhaes it was the same, and Ben White could not play as a full-back, Aaron Ramsdale wasn’t good enough for Arsenal and now we have signed another keeper and it is a catastrophe! Bukayo Saka was a left-back and now he’s a right wing. Granit Xhaka….we have so many good examples. But the players have to love what they do and they do that when they feel supported.
Kai Havertz has had a slow start to life as an Arsenal player (Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Kai Havertz come good for Arsenal? Comment below.
“His football brain, how he understands when to move, how to move, when to stay, when to run, it’s phenomenal. We are talking about a player who has already won and done a lot at his age and he’s played three Premier League games, so… calm.”
Arteta also gave a long-winded explanation using all the roads around North London and his journey into the club’s training ground to explain why changing tactics is vital and what felt like a bit of an answer back to criticism about his tactical tinkering. He added: “Every morning I come from my house to Colney. Sometimes I leave at six and I need to go to the windscreen because it’s icey. At six o’clock normally I go Finchley Road and then the A41 because it’s faster.
“Now Finchley Road is 20 miles per hour so sometimes I take a back door. But then I go on the M25. But depending on if it’s a school ride I take one exit. If it’s after seven o’clock I take a different exit and then I go. One day I have a flat tyre, what do I do? Maybe I have to replace it because there’s a garage there. So every game is a different story guys. A different story.”