Kai Havertz is on fire this season! After his high-profile move from Chelsea to Arsenal, many questioned whether the German forward could live up to his hefty £65 million ($86 million) price tag.
Now, twelve months later, Havertz has silenced critics with an explosive start to the 2024/25 season, and his boss, Mikel Arteta, couldn’t be more thrilled.
On Tuesday, Arsenal faced Paris Saint-Germain in a crucial Champions League group-stage match.
It was Havertz who lit up the Emirates with a perfectly timed header in the 20th minute, propelling the Gunners to a 2-0 victory against one of Europe’s football giants.
This goal marked Havertz’s fifth of the season, a stark contrast to his slow start in the previous campaign, where it took him 10 games just to get his first goal.
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It was no surprise when Havertz walked away with the Man of the Match award after such an outstanding performance.
His contributions weren’t just about the goal—his overall play was pivotal to Arsenal’s success.
He was everywhere, creating opportunities, finding space, and linking up with his teammates in ways that demonstrated why Arteta invested so much faith in him.
After the match, Arteta was full of praise for Havertz, highlighting how his transformation over the past year has made him a central figure in Arsenal’s lineup.
“He has been unbelievable. His football brain, the way he understands space, his timing, he brings people together,” Arteta said in his post-match interview. “His work ethic is incredible and now he is a real threat around the box. He is one of our main players at the moment.”
Havertz’s turnaround is a testament to Arteta’s unwavering belief in him, even during times when the player struggled to adapt last season. But now, Havertz is showing exactly why Arsenal made such a significant investment, and Arteta’s patience is paying off handsomely.
The win against PSG not only helped Arsenal climb to eighth in the 36-team Champions League table but also reinforced their status as serious contenders. Following their 0-0 draw away to Atalanta in the opening game, this victory was crucial in their campaign.
Arteta, however, is not getting carried away just yet. Despite the team’s impressive performance, he knows that the road ahead is long and challenging.
“I’m not even looking at the table,” Arteta said when asked about their current position. “But I think it will be a long journey.”
This cautious approach underscores Arteta’s focus on maintaining consistency over the course of the season. While Arsenal’s fans might be dreaming of a deep Champions League run, the manager knows that staying grounded is key to achieving long-term success.
Arteta’s Arsenal is all about fluidity, smart movement, and high-intensity football, and Havertz is proving to be the perfect fit for this philosophy. His ability to read the game, find pockets of space, and link play between the midfield and attack is becoming invaluable to the Gunners.
Havertz isn’t just a goal scorer. He’s a playmaker, a creator, and a team player. His intelligence on the ball allows him to bring others into the game, making Arsenal’s attack more dynamic and unpredictable.
Last season, many doubted whether Havertz would ever settle into Arteta’s system. Some even labeled him as a “luxury player” who wasn’t needed in a team full of young, hungry talent. But this season has shown a different side of Havertz—one who has fully embraced his role and is now a key cog in the Arsenal machine.
Arsenal’s win over PSG was a statement. Dominating one of Europe’s most powerful clubs, especially in the first half, shows that the Gunners are no longer a team to be underestimated in Europe.
Arteta’s men controlled the game from the start, creating chance after chance and dictating the tempo. The second half proved more challenging as PSG fought back, but Arsenal managed to weather the storm.
As Arteta pointed out, “The first half was very dominant and we created a lot of chances, and then the second half was a different story. We suffered much more than we should have done.”
This resilience is crucial for Arsenal if they are to succeed in the Champions League. The ability to control matches and withstand pressure in difficult moments will be key as they navigate through the group stages and beyond.
