Arsenal experienced a 2-2 draw against Fulham at the Emirates Stadium, and the spotlight has been on new signing Kai Havertz, whose standout moments have gained significant attention.
The German national, secured by the Gunners for a fee of £65 million from Chelsea in the summer transfer window, earned a spot in the starting lineup for his third consecutive Premier League match under manager Mikel Arteta. Despite Havertz’s contributions, Arsenal faced their first points drop of the season in this encounter.
Despite an early setback when Andreas Pereira scored against Aaron Ramsdale, Arsenal managed to level the score in the second half through a Bukayo Saka penalty.
A late goal by substitute Eddie Nketiah put the Gunners ahead with only 15 minutes remaining, giving them hope for victory. However, Fulham’s Joao Palhinha dashed their hopes by equalizing in the 87th minute.
Kai Havertz, who had often played a more advanced attacking role during his tenure at Chelsea, has been positioned by Arteta in a deeper, box-to-box role since joining Arsenal.
This tactical decision has raised eyebrows, especially given the substantial transfer fee paid for Havertz. Many have questioned whether his style aligns with the effective system that propelled Arsenal forward in the previous season under Arteta’s management.
Facing intense scrutiny, the 24-year-old Kai Havertz has been determined to silence his critics, particularly those who began doubting his abilities even before he took the field for Arsenal.
Havertz’s less-than-stellar showing in the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge during the pre-season further added to the pressure he was under as he embarked on his Arsenal journey.
Although Havertz cannot be held accountable for the goals Arsenal conceded in the match, certain moments from his performance have gained significant attention on social media, albeit not for the desired reasons.
Kai Havertz’s highlights vs Fulham emerge
Kai Havertz’s struggles to find the net for Arsenal have continued, and he missed a notable chance to score his first goal for the club in the first half of the game against Fulham.
Bukayo Saka managed to keep the ball in play on the right flank and sent in a cross to Havertz, who strangely directed his attempted shot straight back towards Saka.
Unfortunately, Havertz’s difficulties continued as he later encountered a miscommunication with Gabriel Martinelli. Havertz tried to execute a one-two with the Brazilian player, but their understanding seemed to be lacking.
Additionally, another opportunity arose when Saka delivered a superb cross into the box, yet Havertz hesitated instead of pursuing the run for a straightforward tap-in, expecting a cutback that didn’t materialize.
Check out his highlights below:
VIDEO: Kai Havertz’s highlights vs Fulham
Incredible pass this by Havertz…
— Futbol Chelsea (@FutbolCheIsea) August 26, 2023
Is Kai Havertz okay??? 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/yl3vh1LAqe
— Mo (@mcfcmo1) August 26, 2023
Havertz’s overall statistics vs Fulham
In the end, Havertz was substituted in the 56th minute for Fabio Vieira. However, though these clips of Havertz don’t necessarily paint him in the best of lights, his overall statistics suggest that he had a pretty decent game. The midfielder received a rating of 6.9 on FotMob and had a pass accuracy of 91 per cent. He also made five ball recoveries and won every one of his aerial duels. So, it’s perhaps a little harsh to say that Havertz had a shocker, considering his new role for Arsenal requires him to operate far deeper.
That being said, the German will still have to add goals and assists to his game if he is to justify his hefty price tag, especially given Vieira managed an assist almost immediately after coming on. Deep down, there is no doubt that Havertz is a talented player and you need not look any further than his Champions League-winning goal a few seasons ago. But right now, he seems a player devoid of confidence and it’s up to Arteta to get him back to his best.