Paul Merson thinks Kai Havertz could receive criticism at Arsenal just like Mesut Ozil because of a perceived lack of interest.
Kai Havertz has been praised by Arsenal hero Paul Merson but fears fans may quickly turn on him if it isn’t going well.
Merson has been speaking to Sky Sports about Havertz after completing a big move from Chelsea to Arsenal.
The Gunners pounced to strike a £65million deal for Havertz, raiding their London rivals with an expensive move.
This is a move few saw coming, with Havertz blowing hot and cold since a 2020 move from Bayer Leverkusen.
Havertz had some major highs, scoring the winner in the 2021 Champions League final, but also failing to find consistency or even a best position at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal think they can get more out of Havertz and Merson seems to agree.
Merson suggests that Arsenal should be ‘buzzing’ with the signing of Havertz, believing that he simply makes them a better team.
Merson did though highly the ‘only problem’ for Havertz.
Whilst he ‘elegant’ and ‘silky’, Merson fears Havertz may encounter the same problems as fellow German Mesut Ozil.
Merson believes that Havertz ‘doesn’t look interested’ when things aren’t going well, highlighting the similar languid style to Ozil.
“Arsenal should be buzzing with Kai Havertz, he makes them a better team,” said Merson. “The only problem I could see with Havertz is similar to that experienced by Mesut Ozil at Arsenal. If it’s not going well, Havertz doesn’t look too interested.”
“That’s just down to the way he plays, it’s just the way certain players are, it’s not that he’s not trying. If you’re having a good game Havertz looks elegant, silky, but if it’s not going well, people will say he’s not running around or trying. That’s his only problem, but make no mistake, he improves Arsenal,” he added.
Kai Havertz can make a big impact for Arsenal
There is a fine line between being versatile and not being able to nail down one position.
Havertz fits that bill; he can play in a number of positions but never really locked into one of them at Chelsea.
It sounds like Arsenal intend to play Havertz as an advanced midfielder, replacing Granit Xhaka in the Gunners engine room.
That’s an interesting idea and one that Chelsea never really went for during Havertz’s time there.
Yet if you look at the other profiles at Arsenal, you can see what Mikel Arteta is thinking.
Arsenal like to use something of a false nine in attack, a role Havertz can play.
Arsenal also utilise a right-sided winger cutting in on his left foot in Bukayo Saka.
That’s a position Havertz played prominently at Bayer Leverkusen and could do it again at Arsenal.
Havertz will hopefully find his best form on a regular basis for Arsenal – and produce moments of magic like Ozil rather than cause frustration.
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