Havertz stands among the fresh faces Arsenal has embraced in North London as part of a successful transfer period. This group includes former Ajax talent Jurrien Timber, English standout Declan Rice, and Brentford's top goalkeeper, David Raya.
Former Arsenal and Chelsea defender William Gallas has offered his insights regarding the fortunes of his former Premier League clubs. In particular, the Frenchman delivered a rather harsh assessment of German midfielder Kai Havertz, the recent addition to Arsenal's roster.
Gallas started his Premier League career in 2001, signing with West London side Chelsea, and five years later, he transitioned to Arsene Wenger’s Gunners, embarking on a mixed four-year tenure as he became one of several players to switch sides across the city.
Following a similar trajectory, Havertz sealed a move to Arsenal during the summer transfer window for a substantial £62 million. This move marked the end of his three-year stint at Stamford Bridge, during which he played a pivotal role in securing the Champions League title in 2021, scoring the decisive goal against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
While Havertz has already showcased his abilities at the Wembley Stadium, delivering an impressive performance in Arsenal's Community Shield victory over the Citizens on Sunday, the two-time Premier League winner remains sceptical about Mikel Arteta's latest acquisition.
In response to inquiries about Havertz's potential to shine in his new environment, the 45-year-old shared with Gambling Zone as reported by the Mail that he harbours doubts about Havertz's ability to truly excel.
'I don't believe that Havertz was a player that Arsenal needed to sign this summer,' Gallas said. 'For me, even when he was at Chelsea, he was never consistent enough.
'He scored some important goals for the club, and he played well in flashes. (But) he didn’t put in enough good performances during his Chelsea career in my opinion. When I saw Arsenal were signing him, I didn’t really understand it. I was surprised that they signed him.'
Gallas also expressed his concern about Arsenal missing a specific mentality vital for challenging Man City's dominance in the English top flight.
'I’m sure Arsenal will get very close to winning the title this season, but I don’t think they are crowned champions in May,' Gallas said.
'I think Arsenal are missing the character and the personality to become champions - these are the qualities that they needed to show at the end of last season, and they couldn’t.
'I want to see Arsenal adopt a soldier mentality this season. I want to see players that are ready to communicate a lot on the pitch - demanding more of each other. I want to see experienced players taking responsibility when things are not going well on the pitch for Arsenal.'
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