Kai Havertz, the German international, made his highly-anticipated return to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, marking his first appearance since his £65 million move to Arsenal in the summer. During his three-year stint at Chelsea, Havertz showcased his skills by scoring 32 goals and providing 15 assists. This summer, he became Mikel Arteta’s first signing for the 2023 season and has seamlessly integrated into Arsenal’s midfield alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
Although the 24-year-old has started six out of the seven Premier League games this season, he has only managed to score one goal. However, he recently contributed an assist for Gabriel Martinelli’s winning goal against Manchester City. Despite this, Havertz found himself on the bench again for the London derby yesterday. Arsenal struggled, finding themselves two goals behind due to a penalty from Cole Palmer and a stroke of luck from Mykhailo Mudryk. In the 77th minute, Declan Rice curled the ball into an empty net, reducing the deficit for Arteta’s men. Leandro Trossard, who came on as a substitute, managed to salvage a draw, preserving Arsenal’s unbeaten league start. Havertz was introduced alongside Trossard just six minutes before the equalizing goal.
Interestingly, when Havertz was brought on, some sections of the Stamford Bridge crowd booed him. However, the general consensus among supporters on social media was that they would not show any negative emotions towards him, especially considering his unforgettable winner in the Champions League final of 2021. Havertz took to social media after the game, responding to Saturday’s thrilling match with a simple image of him with the ball, being pressed by Marc Cucurella, without any caption.
This game marked the second consecutive time Havertz began as a substitute. Arteta opted for another former Chelsea player, Jorginho, in the midfield at Stamford Bridge, just as he did in their previous game against Manchester City. Following the 2-2 draw, Havertz, along with Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, expressed their desire for more than a point, while injured defender Jurrien Timber praised his teammates for their impressive comeback.
To read more about Arsenal’s injury news and return dates, including Saka, Saliba, and Vieira, and Gary Neville and Lineker’s agreement on the “ludicrous” William Saliba VAR decision in the Arsenal vs Chelsea game, continue reading.
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Michael Johnson is your soccer guru, providing extensive coverage of soccer. With a global perspective, he delivers match reports, player interviews, and insights into the beautiful game, ensuring readers stay connected to the world of soccer.