Havertz thanks Chelsea fans after making Arsenal debut
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz admits last season was ‘not the best’ for Chelsea and insists he enjoyed his time at the Blues after the midfielder made his Gunners debut following a £65m move
- Kai Havertz joined Arsenal for £65 million last month after three years at Chelsea
- He scored for the Blues’ in their Champions League final victory in 2021
- The midfielder thanked his former club after making his Gunners debut
Kai Havertz has insisted joining Chelsea in 2020 was ‘100% the right step’ but admitted their last season was ‘not the best’, after the midfielder left Stamford Bridge to join Arsenal.
Havertz signed for the Gunners in a £65 million move last month, and played his first game for the club on Thursday as he came off the bench in a 1-1 draw with Nurnberg in a pre-season friendly.
The 24-year-old endured an up-and-down spell at Stamford Bridge, but will go down in Blues history for scoring the winner in the 2021 Champions League final.
He finished as their top scorer in 2022/3 despite being asked to operate out of position as a makeshift centre forward.
In all, the Germany international’s Chelsea career saw him win three trophies and score 32 goals across 139 games.
Kai Havertz made his Arsenal debut on Thursday after joining for £65 million
Mikel Arteta’s side drew 1-1 with Nurnberg after a goal from Bukayo Saka, with Havertz appearing as a second-half substitute
Havertz reflected on his time at the Blues after the Nurnberg game, as he told Sky Sports: ‘It was not the best season for Chelsea last year. I have to say that I’m always going to be thankful to the club, and the fans.
‘I had a very nice three years. Sometimes from outside maybe it doesn’t look like this, but it was 100% the right step to go there.’
‘Now I have completed this move and my full focus is on my time at Arsenal. I will give everything t the club and hopefully achieve something big.’
Havertz was moved back into his natural number eight role in his first Gunners appearance, and put in a promising if unremarkable second-half performance.
He will have to fight for his place in the side, though, with the impeding arrival of Declan Rice likely to close off one place in midfield.
After weeks of negotiations, the West Ham captain looks set to complete his £105m move to the Emirates shortly.
If the deal does get over the line, Rice will join captain Martin Oedgaard in the first choice starting XI, leaving Havertz to battle the likes of Thomas Partey, Jorginho, Fabio Vieira for a place in the side.
Arsenal will continue their pre-season preparations against the MLS All-Stars on Thursday before facing Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 6.
Havertz joined Arsenal after three years at Chelsea, where he won the Champions League
The Germany international will have to fight for his place once Declan Rice’s move to the Emirates is completed
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