Kai Havertz has praised Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard’s leadership and highlighted a pivotal moment that turned his Arsenal career around after a challenging start.
Following his £65m transfer from Chelsea in the summer of 2023, brokered by Mikel Arteta, Havertz initially struggled to adapt to his new club. The German midfielder faced criticism for his performances, taking 10 games to net his first goal for the Gunners. However, Havertz has since become an integral part of Arsenal’s title-contending squad, scoring 13 league goals in a remarkable debut season.
The turning point came during Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth when Odegaard handed Havertz the ball for a penalty, allowing him to score his first goal. Havertz reflected on the significance of that moment in an interview with The Men In Blazers YouTube channel, saying, “It helped me a lot. It was very important to me because when you come to a club and know they’ve paid a lot of money for you, you feel under pressure a bit.”
That gesture from Odegaard not only boosted Havertz’s confidence but also underscored the team’s unity and the captain’s belief in him. Since then, Havertz has flourished, proving to be a vital asset for Arsenal.
Kai Havertz revealed the moment that changed his Arsenal career after a tough start at the club
Havertz (right) hailed the leadership qualities of Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard (Ieft)
Havertz scored his first goal for Arsenal from the penalty spot in last season’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth
‘I’m the kind of person who always needs some time to adapt ,not only to the playing style but also the people here .
‘It took a while again but I was confident I could turn it around. I know on the outside it seemed a bit strange but for me on the inside It was clear my time was going to come.
‘I just worked hard and believed in myself, I’m glad I have such good team-mates who gave me this penalty to get some confidence and the rest went quite well last season,’ he added
Havertz’ rise to form under Arteta’s guidance has coincided with him playing his best football alongside Odegaard.
The Arsenal skipper has only just returned from a long injury stint on the sidelines and Havertz explained why there is such a big difference in the team’s performances when Odegaard is playing.
Havertz has revealed the importance his first goal has had on his Gunners career
Havertz stated: ‘He [Odegaard] is very important to us, he is the captain, someone that speaks a lot to us in the dressing room and on the pitch.
‘Someone that doesn’t only step up with words but steps up with good actions, taking the ball on the pitch in bad situations and that’s very important to us.
‘You just feel when he’s on the pitch and not on the pitch and he gives us so many different things with the ball and without the ball.
‘When we press the goalkeeper or defenders he is the first who goes there and sprints at them. We are all very happy he is back and we have him back on the pitch, said the Arsenal star.