Mikel Arteta offers strange advice to struggling Kai Havertz
- Havertz joined Arsenal from Chelsea in a £65m deal this summer
- 24-year-old has started all five games so far but is yet to impress
- Arteta is keen to turn Havertz into a midfielder
By Tom Gott
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged Kai Havertz to keep working hard to try and win over his new supporters, comparing the German's situation to his attempts to secure a date with his wife.
Havertz arrived at the Emirates Stadium this summer in a £65m deal from Chelsea, where he had struggled to showcase his best form. The 24-year-old has started each of Arsenal's five matches this season but has seen his poor form carry over, leaving his new supporters increasingly frustrated.
Arteta signed Havertz with a view to turning him into an attack-minded central midfielder but the results have not yet arrived, although the boss was adamant that, like his wife, Arsenal fans will warm to him eventually.
"I said to him yesterday, things are hard in the beginning," Arteta told Sky Sports. "When I met my wife, in the beginning it was hard to conquer her and I had to try and keep messaging.
"In the end, she said yes, she wanted to be together and it was beautiful. If it is a yes on the first day, it is not that great. I think the crowd was really good with him."
Asked what won his wife over, Arteta added: "Being persistent and determined!"
READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
feed
To complicate Havertz's attempts to adjust to life in his new position, he will now set off to link up with the German national team, where he is used almost exclusively as a striker.
Featuring occasionally as a winger as well under Hansi Flick, it is clear that Arteta has a unique vision for Havertz as he seeks to help the 24-year-old finally live up to the superstar potential he flashed early in his career with Bayer Leverkusen.
After Germany's friendlies against Japan and France, Havertz will return to Arsenal and begin preparations for the trip to Everton on Saturday 16 September.
LISTEN NOW TO 90MIN'S TALKING TRANSFERS PODCAST
On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders is joined by Toby Cudworth, Graeme Bailey and Sean Walsh to discuss the deals that did and didn't happen on deadline day. They talk over Ryan Gravenberch's move to Liverpool, why Joao Palhinha didn't join Bayern Munich, Sofyan Amrabat's loan to Man Utd and more.
If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!