Former Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit believes Kai Havertz has improved for Arsenal but he has not “been amazing”.
The forward moved from Chelsea in the summer for £60 million and since then has taken a while to settle at the Emirates, but in recent weeks has become a regular goalscorer and provider for his new side.
Speaking to Genting Casino , Petit believes that Arteta has boosted his confidence and been rewarded for his man management.
He praised the player’s determination, too, adding: “One thing I can say about Kai Havertz, is he has never given up. When he arrived at Arsenal, he had criticism from former players, pundits, fans and the media.
“Mikel Arteta has given him the confidence to play well, even when he was not performing well he would be on the pitch. The pressure on Havertz's shoulders has been taken away, the love and respect from his teammates have been very important for a player like him, he can be very sensitive.
“At Chelsea, Havertz was clearly affected and he needed a positive environment. His teammates have the confidence to give him the ball throughout a game, at Chelsea, the team didn't play fluidly so it stopped him getting on the ball.”
He tempered his praise, concluding: “I don’t think he’s been amazing for Arsenal, but he has certainly improved and is playing with confidence now, and that says a lot about Arteta.”
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