September 2nd 2023.
Mikel Arteta has come out in strong support of Arsenal's summer signing, Kai Havertz, in light of his slow start at the club. Arteta sanctioned the expensive £65million purchase of the player who had spent three years at Chelsea with mixed results.
The Gunners' manager had hoped to turn Havertz into an attacking midfielder, a role in which Granit Xhaka excelled in last season, but he has not been able to find his feet yet. In last week's chaotic 2-2 draw against Fulham, Havertz was substituted 10 minutes into the second half and the team started to look a more cohesive unit.
Arteta, however, is adamant that the second most expensive signing in his tenure will come good. He believes that the lack of stability in the team due to injuries and suspensions has made it difficult for Havertz to adapt.
"He can play in so many different roles and play it so well," said Arteta of Havertz's versatility. "He has a football brain, how he understands when to move, how to move, when to stay, when to run. It’s phenomenal."
Arteta has urged the Arsenal fans who displayed signs of impatience with Havertz last weekend to remain patient and reminded them of the club's recent history of successful players who had slow starts. "It’s difficult to ask, especially our people in our stadium and our supporters for more, but my feeling is, give him love and we will get the best out of him," Arteta said. "Let’s do that because there is a lot there to give us."
He went on to cite multiple examples of players who have become firm favourites after a slow start, such as Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka, and Granit Xhaka.
"But the players have to love what they do. And I think they love more what they do when they feel supported," Arteta concluded.
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