Mikel Arteta thinks Kai Havertz is benefitting from feeling the love at Arsenal
Mikel Arteta believes Kai Havertz is benefitting from feeling the love at Arsenal and has challenged the forward to maintain his red-hot recent form.
Germany international Havertz endured a slow start to his Gunners career following a £65million summer switch from Chelsea but has registered five goals and four assists in his last seven Premier League outings.
The 24-year-old was instrumental in his title-chasing side’s 3-0 win at Brighton on Saturday, doubling their lead following Bukayo Saka’s first-half penalty before setting up Leandro Trossard to complete the scoring.
Arsenal are in a three-way tussle for the title with Liverpool and Manchester City and manager Arteta knows Havertz is central to their chances of ending the club’s 20-year wait to be champions.
“He’s certainly having a huge impact on the team,” said Arteta.
“I think his overall performances have been really good and now his numbers in terms of goal contributions, are really, really high. He needs to maintain that level.
“He’s got some fantastic players around him. We have tried to create the right environment for him, which I think is very important for any player.
“We have given him confidence, hopefully we’ve given the love that he needs.
“He has the appreciation from the rest of the players and the staff at the club and now our supporters for sure.”
Havertz managed only one goal and one assist in his first 19 Arsenal appearances in all competitions, prompting doubts about the decision to sign him.
He now has nine league goals in 23 starts this season, in addition to five assists, and is thriving playing as a central striker.
“A lot of the time players decide where they have to play, and we can have certain ideas, but then you see certain relationships and some things flow,” said Arteta.
“And when it flows, you have to let it go, and I think Kai at the moment is flowing and he’s feeling really comfortable there, the rest of the team is comfortable with him there and things happen naturally.”
Arsenal impressively ended Brighton’s 12-match unbeaten home record to register a 10th win in 11 top-flight games in 2024.
Their final seven fixtures included tricky away trips to Wolves, north London rivals Tottenham and Manchester United.
Arteta feels a standout display at the Amex Stadium gives the Gunners increased belief for their remaining away matches.
“Yes it does, because this is a really, really tough place to come and win in the manner and the form that we’ve done it,” he said.
“So hopefully yes, and we can carry on doing what we’re doing.”
Brighton’s hopes of a second successive season in Europe were dealt a blow by the comprehensive defeat.
Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi believes his team are paying a heavy price for a lengthy injury list containing Kaoru Mitoma, Solly March, James Milner, Billy Gilmour, Adam Webster, Jack Hinshelwood and Evan Ferguson.
“We can lose against Arsenal at home,” he said.
“We can analyse the performance, we can analyse the improvement of our players and we couldn’t say anything because if we play without Mitoma, March and all the other injured players we have to accept the result, keeping the focus on the last games we have to play.”
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'We go to win' - Bukayo Saka reveals what Arsenal have learnt from Premier League title heartbreak
Saka insists Arsenal will not repeat last season's mistakes as they aim to win the Premier League trophy
Gunners sit at the top of the table after defeating Brighton 3-0 on Saturday night
Saka scored a penalty in the 33rd minute before strikes from Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard
By Katie Catherall
Apr 7, 2024
Saka scored on Saturday night at Brighton
Saka scored on Saturday night at Brighton / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka says his side have learnt from the heartbreak of their failed 2022/23 Premier League title challenge after they went top with a 3-0 win over Brighton on Saturday night.
Saka scored alongside strikes from Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard in the victory at Brighton to lift the Gunners back into first. They sit one point in front of Liverpool, who are set to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
After finishing just five points behind champions Manchester City last year, playmaker Saka believes the team have what it takes to succeed in the league and insists they won't make the same mistakes as last season.
Leandro Trossard, Declan Rice
Arsenal secured victory over Brighton on Saturday / Steve Bardens/GettyImages
Speaking after Saturday's win at the Amex, Saka said: "Inside we're all buzzing. We know the win takes us back on top, we're building momentum.
"Last season was not great, but it was great in terms of we have learnt our lesson. In games like this we need to put it to bed. Last season we were conceding late goals and having to defend.
"From the keeper to the striker, you saw Kai [Havertz] how hard he's working. We know how we're going to handle it. We go to win, that's the mentality we must have.
"This year we are more comfortable and I think the team is better. I feel like we are ready for each game to win."
Arsenal have now kept five consecutive clean sheets away from home in the league for the first time since 1997 as they look to earn Premier League silverware.
They will have to put their league dreams aside on Tuesday when they return to action in the Champions League, facing Bayern Munich in the first leg of their quarter-final.
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Man Utd in danger of setting new club record for Premier League defeats
Man Utd could set for low for defeats in a Premier League season vs Liverpool on Sunday
Latest defeat to Chelsea took Erik ten Hag's side to 12 losses this term
Red Devils are sixth with little hope of Champions League qualification
By Jude Summerfield
Apr 7, 2024
Man Utd slipped to defeat at Chelsea
Man Utd slipped to defeat at Chelsea / Marc Atkins/GettyImages
Manchester United are in danger of setting a new negative Premier League record the next time they lose a match in the division.
Mass injury absentees and ropy management have led to a disappointing second season in charge for Erik ten Hag, whose side are well off the Champions League qualification pace with only the FA Cup remaining as their sole chance of silverware in 2023/24.
Man Utd sit in sixth place ahead of Liverpool's visit to Old Trafford, having managed 48 points from their 30 games so far. There have already been 12 defeats, which equals the club's most in a single Premier League season alongside 2013/14 and 2021/22.
Just one more will see this Red Devils' squad sit alone with 13 losses, which will hardly impress Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos as they assess the manager situation ahead of the summer transfer window.
Bruno Fernandes
Man Utd slipped to an embarrassing defeat at Chelsea / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages
United also need 11 more points in their final eight games to overtake their previous worst haul of 58 from 2021/22, though that was still enough for sixth place.
Ten Hag does have a kind run-in on paper to prepare for once they face Liverpool on Sunday. Man Utd visit Bournemouth next weekend before their FA Cup semi-final with Championship side Coventry.
Man Utd's most defeats in a Premier League season
Season
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
GD
Points
Position
2013/14
38
19
7
12
+21
64
7th
2021/22
38
16
10
12
0
58
6th
2023/24
30
15
3
12
-1
48
6th
2015/16
38
19
9
10
+14
66
5th
2018/19
38
19
9
10
+11
66
6th
Matches at home against struggling Sheffield United and Burnley should help United bolster their points total before trickier assignments with Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Brighton round off the 2023/24 season.
Ten Hag claimed he had "no doubts" he would be at Old Trafford next season after the ridiculous 4-3 defeat to Chelsea in midweek, adding: "I'm just focusing on my job, focusing on this process, in this project. I really love to be here, I'm enjoying it. For me it's a challenge."
United can point to their own 4-3 success in the FA Cup as reason for optimism against Liverpool on Sunday, though their opponents are in the hunt for the title and looking to reclaim top spot after wins for Manchester City and Arsenal earlier this weekend.
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