Kai Havertz was Arsenal’s hero at Brentford on Saturday (Picture: Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta praised the quality of Kai Havertz after the Arsenal star was deployed at left-back by Germany over the recent international break.
The 24-year-old scored the only goal of the game for the Gunners at Brentford on Saturday, just his second for the club since a summer move from Chelsea.
It has been a bit of a struggle for Havertz at Arsenal so far as he tries to find his place in Arteta’s starting XI. A place he didn’t find this weekend as he came off the bench to score the big goal.
He was in Julian Nagelsmann’s first team over the international break, though, starting at left-back against Turkey and Austria in friendly contests.
Germany lost both matches, and although Havertz scored in the defeat to Turkey, it is unlikely to be an experiment that continues next summer at the European Championships.
However, Arteta feels he showed his quality by being asked to play at left-back, as he has played in various roles for Chelsea and Arsenal so far in his career in England.
‘First of all his quality because a player can play in different positions needs a lot of qualities to be able to do that,’ Arteta said when asked what his new role shows.
Havertz started in back-to-back Germany defeats over the international break (Picture: Getty Images)
‘He puts his head down and drives a team, if he needs to do that in any position it’s the same.
‘But he’s not the only one. I asked Jorginho to play three minutes. I said “Jorgi” and by the time I’ve done that he’s taken everything off and he’s ready to go. It’s just a joy of a team to work with.’
Arteta also said Havertz individually is a joy to work with, labelling him as ‘adorable’.
‘If things came easy, he wouldn’t have got the reception he got today with everybody hugging him and telling him how much we love him,’ said the Spaniard.
‘It is because he is adorable and a joy to work with.’
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The Arsenal star was given a new role at international level.