“I haven’t coached such amazing player like that in my whole career… He’s too good”: Arteta praises ONE particular Arsenal player and it’s not Saka

Despite his impressive recent success, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta feels Kai Havertz has ‘another level’ to attain.

Following a successful 2023/24 season, Havertz has made a good start to the new season.

The Germany international netted the equaliser in Arsenal’s 3-1 comeback victory against Southampton on Saturday, bringing his season total to six goals in 11 games across all competitions.

Havertz has now scored in each of his previous four outings in all competitions, including seven consecutive games at Emirates Stadium.

Arteta believes’something has shifted’ in Havertz, and that he still has more gears to go through.

“When he’s practicing, he wants more and isn’t satisfied with what he’s doing because there is, I believe, another level in him,” Arteta told reporters at his post-match news conference (via Arsenal’s official website).

“Obviously, he’s surrounded by incredible players but something has changed in him and that confidence, you really sense it and now he’s putting it into games and he’s winning football matches which is great.”

Arteta praises Kai Havertz’s ‘football intellect’
Havertz’s goal-scoring record is all the more astounding given that he isn’t even a true striker.

According to Arteta, the 25-year-old’s ‘football brain’ as an attacking midfielder adds another dimension to his game that makes defenders nervous.

“You can tell [his confidence has grown], he takes the ball and he runs with the ball,” the player from Spain said.

“He’s on high press, he goes full gas with the manner he handles the ball and the position he occupies in the box. He is an aggressive midfielder who plays as a nine, and you have no idea where he is because of his football brain. His concentration is now on ‘I’m going to win the game, I’m going to accomplish it,’ which is a whole other thing.”