Martin Odegaard has issued his verdict on Kai Havertz after the forward scored his first Arsenal goal from open play to give the Gunners victory at Brentford at the weekend.
Odegaard was speaking to the club’s official website as he reflected on his own struggles in the opening months of this season.
Kai Havertz will hope that this past weekend proves to be a turning point in his Arsenal career. Havertz had previously struggled to offer a lot following his surprise move to the Emirates in the summer.
Martin Odegaard lauds Kai Havertz after Arsenal winner
Mikel Arteta has more recently taken the Germany international out of the firing line somewhat and used him off the bench a little more often. And that appears to suit the 24-year-old. Certainly, it has taken the pressure off.
His only goal for Arsenal before the weekend came from the penalty spot in the win over Bournemouth. But he came up with a big moment against Brentford.
It was Havertz who got on the end of an amazing Bukayo Saka cross to nod the winner in the final minutes at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Unsurprisingly, the Arsenal players looked delighted for their teammate. And Martin Odegaard has now shared how much it meant to see Havertz get that moment.
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“It was great to come back into the team with a win on Saturday. It was a big goal from Kai, and everyone was so happy for him,” he told the club’s official website.
“He deserves that moment, it’s been difficult for him at times, but he’s been working so hard and he’s a big part of this team. He’s a great guy too and he deserved that goal, I was so happy for him.”
Goal needs to be the turning point
Arsenal fans have stuck by Havertz throughout the season. So it would have been particularly satisfying for them to see him make that impact.
But it does feel imperative that he now builds on that moment. Havertz had such an underwhelming time at Chelsea. And he had not hit the ground running at Arsenal.
If this proves to be a false dawn, supporters will surely have more questions about the decision to sign him from Chelsea.
But Odegaard is clearly optimistic that we may now be about to see the best of him.