The sports commentator Richard Keys blasted Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, by comparing Kai Havertz to the “new Ozil without talent” in a scathing statement.
Havertz, who played 56 minutes in the Premier League match that ended in a 2-2 tie, has come under heavy fire for his lacklustre performance against Fulham. Havertz’s missed opportunity and failure to win tackles have drawn attention despite his two opportunities and five recoveries.
A single point for the hosts against Fulham as a result of Arteta’s tactical switch to include Havertz prompted criticism from analysts. Keys, who was the most recent to express worry, objected to Arteta’s justification of Havertz’s subpar performance in the game. The seeming failure of the strategic gamble encourages a closer examination of Arteta’s decisions and the team’s performance as a whole.
New Ozil?
Havertz and former Arsenal midfielder Ozil were compared by Keys; “Now don’t jump down my throat when I say this, let me finish the statement: Havertz is the new Ozil… without the talent. And the reason I say that is because both are enigmas. They didn’t know what to do with Ozil so they sold him! And now they’ve gone and bought Havertz.” Further, he adds “I’m talking about under Arteta. Arteta couldn’t handle him. He’s like Guardiola, neither of them can handle big players with big personalities.” an article from sportskeeda.com shared.
Kai Havertz season so far
Even after making a high-profile move from Chelsea to Arsenal this summer, the talented German player has had trouble making an impression at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners had hoped for a rapid return on their astronomical £65 million investment in Havertz, but in his first four games in a variety of competitions, neither goals nor assists have been produced. Fans and analysts alike are uncertain as to whether the midfielder will genuinely feel at home in the colors of his new team due to this goal drought.
Havertz will get a chance to prove himself against Manchester United on September 2 after his underwhelming showing against Fulham. He will have the chance to dispel doubters and once more demonstrate his full potential in the upcoming match.
The photo above is from Instagram