WHAT HAPPENED?
Havertz scored his fourth Premier League goal of the season – and sixth in all competitions – as the Gunners maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign with a 3-1 victory against Southampton. After Cameron Archer’s shock opener put Arsenal behind, the German international levelled the score in the 58th minute with a clinical finish from Bukayo Saka’s pass, sparking the comeback.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The Havertz that we’re seeing at Emirates Stadium is completely different to the one who couldn’t quite find himself at Chelsea. He recorded his highest tally in the English top flight last season and is going some way to dispelling the idea that Arsenal need a better number nine in order to win the title.
Arsenal FC v Brighton & Hove Albion FC – Premier League
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WHAT ARTETA SAID
“You can tell [his confidence has grown], he takes the ball and he runs with the ball,” Arteta said after the Saints win. “He’s on high press, he goes full gas, the way he holds the ball, the position he takes in the box. He’s an attacking midfielder, he plays as a nine, you don’t know where he is, that’s his football brain. His focus now is ‘I’m going to win the game, I’m going to do it’ and that’s a different thing.
“When he’s practising, he wants more and he’s not satisfied with what he’s doing because there is still, I think, another level from him. Obviously, he’s surrounded by incredible players but something has changed in him and that confidence, you really sense it and now he’s putting it into games and he’s winning football matches which is great.”
DID YOU KNOW?
The 25-year-old has now scored in seven games in a row at Emirates Stadium, matching Robin van Persie’s record from the 2011-12 campaign.
Germany v Hungary – UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A3
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WHAT NEXT FOR HAVERTZ?
Havertz has been included in Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad for their Nations League games against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands on October 11 and 14 respectively.
