Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta is “happy” with Kai Havertz’s first goal for the club in a 4-0 Premier League win at Bournemouth.
Having failed to score in his previous nine appearances in all competitions following his big-money switch from Chelsea this summer, Havertz finally found the net for Arsenal from the penalty spot as he scored their third goal in a 4-0 win at Bournemouth.
Arteta is therefore delighted that the Germany international has ended his 20-match goal drought which stretched back to April, with support of his teammates which underlined the unity of this Arsenal squad.
Reflecting post-match upon what it meant to see Havertz on the scoresheet, Arteta admitted that he is “really happyfor the win but even happier to be part of something, part of a team that shows the human qualities that they have shown today,” with empathy towards Havertz under scrutiny.
The Spaniard added that he let the players decide who take the penalties as he explained: “That’s the beauty of it, they take initiative and they take the leadership to make those calls.
“I haven’t asked them, I imagine Bukayo has to take it so first of all he gives it to Martin and then he gave it to Kai, it doesn’t really matter, the beauty is in the gesture and the fact that the players can make those steps and decisions.”
On what he expects the goal to do for Havertz’s confidence, Arteta added: “It will probably change everything, but first of all if he had any question marks about how we feel about him, how much we love him, how much we appreciate everything that he does, I think that’s out.
“I think in sport, Usain Bolt said it once, I have to train four years to run nine seconds, sometimes you have to do a lot and you don’t see that, but in that moment you see it, I’m sure what he’s been through in the last few weeks, this moment is worth every moment of the other moments.”
Havertz also has faced intense scrutiny since his move across London but Arteta has refused to entertain the critics, as he iterated that the German’s “level of commitment, desire, attitude, understanding, quality is top,” which has translated into a goalscoring performance.
