He’s had his critics, it’s fair to say, but the Arsenal ace who was on everybody’s Flop of the Season XI not so long ago is now shaping up to be one of this season’s most inspired acquisitions.
OK, his impact during Sunday’s bore draw with Manchester City at the Etihad was rather minimal, a so-called Premier League title decider failing to live up to those pre-match expectations.
The much-improved form of Kai Havertz is a big reason why Arsenal are in a title race (again) in the first place. In his last seven games, the Germany international has six goal contributions at club level, translating his fine form onto the international stage with a well-taken finish in the 2-0 win over France last week too.
Is Havertz finally living up to the promise which once made him perhaps the most coveted young forward in Europe? Well, not quite, perhaps. He could still influence games more, and there remain doubts about whether he is the number nine Arsenal can rely upon for years to come.
But, still, for the first time since scoring the winner in the 2021 Champions League final for Chelsea, Havertz is helping to decide games at the highest level in pursuit of the biggest prizes.
Arsenal fans being won over by Kai Havertz
Bayer Leverkusen, where the 24-year-old made his name, sold Havertz to Chelsea for £71 million four years ago. Real Madrid came calling around the same time but, due to the pandemic and the financial losses that came with it, Los Blancos could only bring afford to complete a £68 million deal for the youngster 12 months later.
Havertz, however, was in no mood to wait for Real, accepting Chelsea’s offer instead.
“I tried to convince Kai to wait, but he wanted to win titles,” Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro tells Onda Cero. “We sold to Chelsea. One of the reasons was the ambition he had.”
Carro remains convinced, however, that Havertz remains better suited to the slower, more considered pace of La Liga football than the fury and the ferocity of the Premier League.
“(Havertz) is a player who, due to his football and quality, has the capacity to fit better in a Spanish club.”
Tipped for a future in La Liga
Havertz now has nine goals and three assists for current employers Arsenal. HITC understands that The Gunners are still looking to bring in a more classic centre-forward over the summer, however.
There is interest in Brentford’s wantaway talisman Ivan Toney, Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, while Arsenal are also stepping up their pursuit of Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres.
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