The preseason is a fascinating time for summer acquisitions, particularly the more costly ones, as their performances are scrutinised for the first time, and fans eagerly anticipate a first error to seize upon.
Preseason should not be a series of games where newcomers are disqualified as duds. Therefore, you can appreciate the confusion when some opposing supporters quickly wrote off Arsenal’s £65 million addition Kai Havertz when he underperformed in a skills challenge.
Yes, the German was dubbed a flop by some following a very embarrassing try at the MLS volley challenge in which he failed to net even a single shot. However, a day later, and when it mattered somewhat more, the former Chelsea player had little trouble scoring and quelling criticism.
Havertz couldn’t help but take a shot at the naysayers on Twitter after proving everyone wrong.
In response to criticism, Kai Havertz
Havertz didn’t waste any time responding to those who had initially criticised him following the skills challenge. He sent out a short, two-word tweet that read “Have that” — a play on his name — along with a target and a yawn emoji, undoubtedly alluding to the criticism he had received online following his struggles in the skills challenge.
The following message was sent by him, and it was more sombre: “But in all seriousness.. Really amazing feeling to get my first Arsenal goal!
“We are so grateful to the fans for their incredible support this week,”
Both Havertz and Mikel Arteta will feel some satisfaction that the forward is off to a good start in an Arsenal jersey as the Premier League season approaches quickly.
The German will be looking to reach the heights that many thought he’d achieve at Chelsea before faltering and never really getting going at Stamford Bridge as he failed to reach double figures in the league in any of his three seasons with the Blues.
With Kai Havertz, how will Arsenal set up?
Even Arteta, after the Gunners’ 5-0 preseason victory over the MLS All-Stars, admitted that Havertz was difficult to predict, saying via 90 minutes that “he gives us something very different with his quality and size as well, when you have to beat the press for example and use him as a target man.”
“So, we’ll see. He’s currently playing in the attacking midfield position, but I’m sure that as the season and individual games progress, we’ll have the option to play him in different positions,” said the coach.
Keeping an eye on it will undoubtedly be intriguing. A potentially deadly midfield partnership between the German and Martin Odegaard is possible. Or, he can be assigned to play as a striker with Gabriel Jesus.
In either case, Arteta has a versatile player on his team who can contribute to success. Although there may have been some initial apprehensions, Havertz shown against the MLS All-Stars that he is more than capable of contributing to the North London team.
Arsenal will be preparing for the next Premier League season with the hope of improving upon their title-winning season from the previous one.
After losing to Manchester City last season, the Gunners will undoubtedly try to compete this season and cause more surprises along the way.
In addition, they will be keeping an eye on the Champions League, where they will once again face off against the top clubs in the world, when they return to European competition.
