In their match against Lens, the Gunners appear to have taken the criticism of their lack of fluidity in their attack against Brenford personally. They easily qualified for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages after defeating RC Lens 6-0 at the Emirates.
Arsenal led 5-0 at the halftime break, thanks to five different goal scorers. Havertz continued where he left off against Brentford, tapping home after Gabriel Jesus’ header set him up (the goal made him the 100th player to score a competitive goal at the Emirates).
Arsenal earned their second when Gabriel Jesus with some quick feet after Bukayo Saka’s feeding him the ball. Saka then scored on a Gabriel Martinelli rebound that the Lens goalkeeper couldn’t keep. Martinelli scored the fourth goal after some crazy dribbling, before Odegaard scored the fourth goal from a volley.
The Gunners were kinder in the second half, but Jorginho scored a penalty after Martinelli won it to make it 6.
I know everyone is talking about how good Gabriel Jesus was in that game, but I liked what I saw from Havertz. The German international appeared to be on the rise. Some thought that his contributions in Brentford’s win would be a watershed moment in his Arsenal career, and that may be the case.
He completed 27 of his 28 passes, created 2 chances, had 2 shoots, had 2 passes in the final third, was not dispossessed, made a clearance, and won 3 of 4 aerial duels.
Many people who had written him off were surprised to see him so confident with the ball, beating players, and making dangerous crosses into the box. Game after game, his confidence grows.
Mikel Arteta has successfully unlocked Kai Havertz.This could be the point when we witness what Arteta saw in him, and if the ex-Blue really starts flowing and moving like this, he will be really dangerous.
Do you think he’ll be unstoppable from now on?
Daniel O
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Yes, I believe MA will fix him and make him shine 🙂
” This could be the point when we witness what Arteta saw in him, and if the ex-bluse really starts flowing and moving like this, he will be really dangerous ”
Guided by the conventional wisdom class is permanent, there was always a chance that those who write off the German international does so at their own peril.
Fielding a front five of Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Jesus and the big German the gunners were electric from the outset, they look a different animal in Europe.
The 24 years old played in a midfield against Lens a position handed to him by the gaffer since joining from the blues in the summer, He flourished opening the scoring in the 13 th minute with a fine finish.
There are those who’d argue that using Havertz in attack maybe a backwards step. On the contrary, it may might just be what’s required to help him move forward at Arsenal
So many times we see our own fans writing off players – it’s like watching sheep following each other, reading how their not good enough to wear the shirt etc etc etc.
One would have thought that they had learnt their lesson by now, but no…. a scapegoat has to be found.
Not a single thought was given to the clown show of a club he had left, or the weight of the reported £72 million transfer fee affecting him.
Neither was any consideration given to how MA would be able to coach him, fit him into the system, or the fact that he was aGermal international – it was all about buying a chelsea cast off and why we didn’t need him.
Let’s wait and see how the season and out before crucifying the player shall we?
He is definitely improving and his confidence is growing. He may have turned the corner and he may niw push on to be the player Arteta envisaged. I really hope so, he shows touches of class and he seems more integrated into the team pattern. Maybe we have a winner after all.
He had flashes of brilliance while at Chelsea but on a very irregular basis. I hope Arteta’s determination to bring it out of him consistently by surrounding him with the right type of support works out.
When Chelsea first got Havertz I was a bit jealous because I thought that quality is what we need at Arsenal, so unlike a lot of Gooners I was actually happy that Arteta went for him. His start was shaky and I’ll admit that I was worried (Wouldn’t be the first time a good Chelsea player became a rubbish Arsenal player!) but I’m delighted and relieved now that Havertz is proving his critics wrong. I hope he goes from strength to strength now because he really is very good.