Jermain Defoe thinks Kai Havertz was ‘lucky’ that his Arsenal teammates Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka allowed him to take a penalty against Bournemouth.
With Arsenal leading 2-0, captain Martin Odegaard, who had scored from the spot-kick in the first-half, decided to hand the ball to Kai Havertz.
Previously, Bukayo Saka has also taken that responsibility, but he seemed happy for his under-fire teammate to get himself on the scoresheet instead.
All in all, ex-Premier League striker Jermain Defoe labelled it ‘strange’ even though he was ‘delighted’ that Kai Havertz scored his first goal for his new club, as he told Premier League Productions (30/09/23 at 8:20 pm).
This was just a case of the Arsenal players trying to get the confidence up of a player who has taken a lot of hits since joining from Chelsea.
Aside from the penalty, the German international actually had a strong game, so things could be about to turn for the player.
Kai Havertz penalty
“He is lucky that he has got players that are actually giving him the ball to take a penalty,” said Defoe.
“I have been in some dressing rooms and you are the penalty taker. But I do think it’s quite strange, to be honest, that Saka, Odegaard, then Havertz, for different reasons, taking the penalty.
“But for him, delighted for him because you never know what goes on in people’s lives. There are a lot of things that can affect the way you play. For Havertz, it’s good.”
Can Kai Havertz kick on?
The 24-year-old needs to start the ball rolling now, or else, Arsenal will leave him behind.
Mikel Arteta and Co. are trying everything they can to get Havertz going, with games in the Champions League and the Premier League an ample chance for him to do so.
With Manchester City coming up on Sunday, Havertz knows too well that if he performs in that game, then the praise towards him will go through the roof.
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