Arsenal supporters who doubted Kai Havertz should be made to apologise to the German forward, according to Rio Ferdinand.
Havertz joined Arsenal in a £65million transfer from Chelsea in the summer window, arriving alongside Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and David Raya. While fans were agreed on the importance of signing Rice from West Ham for a club-record £105m fee, the arrival of Havertz split opinion.
He only contributed 32 goals and 12 assists in 139 matches for Chelsea, although one of those goals did win the Blues the Champions League final in 2021. Not everybody was convinced that Mikel Arteta knew what he was doing in shelling out so much for Havertz, but he has won over the fans recently.
The Germany international now has 10 goals and five assists this season and was instrumental in the 3-0 win over Brighton which sent Arsenal top of the Premier League. And speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich, Ferdinand urged fans to put some respect on his name.
“There was huge pressure (when he first arrived),” Ferdinand said on TNT Sports. “When we talk about the character of players and being the make-up of any top player, he has got that. He was questioned by a lot of Arsenal fans. When I walk around here and anywhere at Arsenal, I always say to the Arsenal fans, have you apologised to Havertz? They need to say sorry. They need to apologise.”
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Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown then admitted he was one of the doubters. He said: “At the start of the season we were not sure. I sat on the fence a little bit, but I am glad I did because look at the composure he now has.
"Look at the quality and the movement, he just ghosts into that central position and he’s done that quite a few times. His goal involvements recently are crazy. They gave him time, the manager believed in him and he’s paying him back now in bucket loads."
Kai Havertz has won over Arsenal fans (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Has your opinion of Kai Havertz changed? Comment below.
Ferdinand added: “That is where Arteta has to get a lot of credit. Some managers would have panicked and said, ‘I’ll take you out now’, but he persevered with him because he believed in the quality, and this kid has paid him back.”
Fans may have doubted, but Arteta was never in their camp. Speaking after the win at Brighton, he said of Havertz: “He's certainly having a huge impact on the team. His overall performances have been really good and now his numbers for goal contributions are really high.
“He needs to maintain that. I think his understanding of the attacking players was superb. I think they had real purpose and connection and a lot of clarity on where to attack and we created many chances.”
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