- Kai Havertz joined Arsenal from Chelsea in a £65m deal this summer
- William Gallas thinks it was a ‘mistake’ to sign him and claims Havertz is ‘in trouble’
- Listen to the latest episode of the Mail Sport podcast “It’s all coming!”
William Gallas is concerned about Kai Havertz’s start at Arsenal and believes his former club made a ‘mistake’ in signing the Germany international this summer.
After three years at Chelsea, during which he won the Champions League and the Club World Cup, Havertz joined Arsenal in July for £65 million.
Havertz has featured regularly for Mikel Arteta’s men in the opening weeks of the season but has struggled to cement a place in the side and has only one goal to his name so far – a penalty in a routine 4- 0 win against Bournemouth.
Former Arsenal captain Gallas is not convinced by Havertz and believes he is yet to make a positive impression at the Emirates.
“So far I’m not impressed with Kai Havertz,” he said Lord Ping. ‘He hasn’t done anything since he joined Arsenal.
Kai Havertz has had a difficult start at Arsenal after joining from Chelsea this summer
Mikel Arteta played regularly against Havertz, but the Germany international only scored once
Former Arsenal captain William Gallas believes Havertz is already ‘in trouble’ at his new club
Your browser does not support iframes.
‘He may have scored, but that was only because Martin Odegaard made him take a penalty! Havertz hasn’t done anything yet and I think he’s in trouble.”
Arsenal defeated Manchester City before the international break to move level on points with north London rivals Tottenham at the top of the table.
However, doubts remain over whether Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah will score enough goals to propel them to their first title in 20 years this season.
Gallas believes Arsenal should have spent big on a goalscorer this summer and does not see Havertz as the player who can regularly find the back of the net to take the club to the next level after their second-place finish last season.
‘I don’t think Arsenal should have signed Kai Havertz. I think that was a mistake. If you spend €60 million on a striker, you expect him to score at least fifteen goals in a season! “I don’t think that will happen,” he added.
‘Arsenal don’t have time! The season may be long, but clubs need immediate results. Havertz played at Chelsea for three years and knows the Premier League well.
‘It may take a while for him to settle into a new team, but he was already living in London! Players have to adapt immediately – they don’t have time.’
For now, Havertz retains Arteta’s confidence and will get the chance to prove Gallas wrong when he returns to Chelsea for the first time tomorrow when Arsenal face the Blues at Stamford Bridge.
