The only way to start off this post is to say I was highly skeptical when Havertz was signed. Hell, away with half-truths: I was dead sure Arsenal made a massive mistake. A quick search for “Havertz” from @the_tsar_cannon (my Twitter handle) will result in stuff like this:
August, after a narrow win over Crystal Palace:
2. Out of all players who finished the 90, Havertz deserved it the least
3. I have no idea what Havertz actually brings. He looks the same slow and inefficient player that he was at Chelsea
— Alex (@The_Tsar_Cannon) August 21, 2023
6 games in I still have no idea why we bought Havertz and why he’s getting so much game time
6 games in I still have no idea why we bought Havertz and why he’s getting so much game time
— Alex (@The_Tsar_Cannon) September 24, 2023
It’s only around December that I have started appreciating what Havertz brings to the side. Despite some horrible misses, wildly misplaced passes and slow decision-making and legwork, Kai’s stock rose. He started chipping in with an occasional goal. A stoppage-time winner vs Brentford away, the opening goal vs Brighton at the Emirates as the insane pressure from the hosts bore fruit.
But it wasn’t until March, maybe even April, that I’ve grown to like Havertz and consider him a key member of the XI. I stopped pining for Arteta to start Jesus up top, or try someone less orthodox — like Trossard or Martinelli — at false nine.
I’ll admit to missing some of the thumpings Arsenal handed out during a highly enjoyable February and March. How the hell did I know Havertz was consistently good then? Fantasy football.
I’ve been playing the official fantasy game for 8 years now. Love it or hate it, there’s one inescapable truth — players’ popularity on fantasy is a measure of their output. And Havertz started racking up points like no one else.
I’ve brought him in ahead of gameweek 34, when Arsenal faced Wolves and Chelsea in the space of several days — and I massively enjoyed Kai’s brace in the 5-0 thumping for an extra reason: a shedload of points. I did not have the resolve to keep him ahead of away games at Spurs and Man United. My lack of faith was severely punished
Finally, I transferred him in for the last game. I watched Kai hit the bar and the post — and then kick the latter as he was beating himself up for a missed opportunity to put Arsenal in front.
But the image that stuck with me was when Havertz smashed in Odegaard’s mis-kicked pass. 2-1 in the dying stages of the game — and Kai didn’t celebrate. The obvious disappointment on his face told the story of a mentality monster. He wasn’t on the pitch to cover himself in glory, to prove doubters wrong. He was on the pitch to help Arsenal succeed. Kai didn’t care about being the top dog himself — if Arsenal weren’t.
It should have been a brilliant ending to Havertz’s redemption arc. Signed for an exorbitant amount, ridiculed for his on-field contribution, his body language resembled that of Mesut Ozil (not in a good sort of way). Kai turned it around, he kept at it, he got his reward.
The Everton goal should have been a golden one. A strike to hand Arsenal their first title in 20 years. It wasn’t. Instead we were treated to an image of an absolutely crestfallen Havertz trotting back to the halfway line, refusing to celebrate another late winner he’s scored.
And then there’s video footage of Kai telling how hard it is: not to give 60,000 fans in the stadium — and millions worldwide — the reward they deserved at the end of such a brilliant season.I’ve made my peace with the fact Arsenal were unlikely to win the title — more than a month ago, after the Villa loss. It was not down to the loss itself, more the fact I knew City would not slip up. Yet a faint hope was alive somewhere inside of me.
I watched City being outplayed by Spurs over 90 minutes and still come out as winners. I followed the West Ham game avidly after Kudus pulled one back — and before Rodri put the contest to bed. Yet one thing I cannot — and will not — do is point at Arsenal’s mistakes and dropped points.
The team, much like Havertz, had a tough first half of the campaign. Arsenal, much like Kai, came roaring back in the second half. The Gunners, much like their de-facto new striker, believed and fought until the very end.
And I hope that Arteta’s side, much like his lanky protege, will push on harder still next season. But whatever happens then, I’ll be grateful for the journey this season. And for being proven so massively wrong about our number 29, his application and mentality.
