Arsenal midfielder Kai Havertz has named the player he spoke to before he joined the Gunners from Chelsea.
Havertz has also noted how the training ground situation is at Arsenal.
So, what has Kai Havertz said about his move from Chelsea to Arsenal in the summer of 2023? Let’s take a look.
What’s the story?
Well, Kai Havertz joined Arsenal from London and Premier League rivals Chelsea in the summer transfer window.
Arsenal paid £65 million in transfer fees for Havertz, who can operate as a midfielder or as a forward.
I personally think that it was too much money to pay, especially for a player who Arsenal did not actually need.
After all, Havertz’s best position is as a number 10. Martin Odegaard is the architect-in-chief for Arsenal. Anyway, who am I to question Mikel Arteta? Certainly not David Dein.
Another player Arsenal signed in the summer transfer window was Declan Rice. The England international midfielder arrived from West Ham United for £100 million.
Rice, who can also operate as a defender, has hit the ground running at Arsenal and has been one of the best players for the Gunners this season.
Havertz has said that he spoke to Rice, 24, before making the move to Arsenal, noting that he knew the Englishman through Mason Mount.
Mount and Rice are England international teammates. The former joined Manchester United from Chelsea in the summer of 2023.
Havertz told Arsenal’s official website: “Before I joined, I spoke a lot with Declan Rice as well, who I know through Mason Mount. For me it was very easy to come into the team because there are so many young players.
“I’ve played against a lot of them already so I know them from the pitch, and I have found it easy to make friends here. Hopefully it will continue like this.”
The Germany international added: “From the first minute that I spoke to Mikel about joining Arsenal, I had this feeling that he respects all of us very much, so that was also a big part of me joining the club.
“I just felt the togetherness of the club from the players and especially within the fans and the whole club. At the training ground it’s like a big family – and this is a big factor to achieve great things.”
Arsenal fans need to keep faith in Kai Havertz
I believe that Arsenal fans need to be patient with Kai Havertz and have to give him time.
I know that things are not working out at the moment, but Havertz is still only 24 and has a long-term contract with Arsenal.
We have seen Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta improve Martin Odegaard, who struggled at Real Madrid and is now one of the best playmakers in the Premier League.
Something like that could happen with Havertz, who played at left-back for Germany against Turkey. Lothar Matthaus was not impressed with it, and neither was Bernd Stange.
