“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

“In my whole career, I have never coached a player as great as that one… He’s too skilled. It’s not Saka who Arteta singles out for admiration among Arsenal players.

Despite his stellar recent performance, Kai Havertz still has “another level” to attain in the eyes of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

Havertz has had a good start to the current season, building on a successful 2023–24 campaign.

The Germany international extended his season total to six goals in 11 games in all competitions on Saturday when he scored the equalizer in Arsenal’s 3-1 comeback victory over Southampton.

Havertz has now found the net in seven straight games at the Emirates Stadium and in each of his past four appearances across all competitions.

Arteta feels that Havertz still has a few more gears to shift, but that “something has changed” in him.

At his post-match press conference, Arteta told reporters, “When he’s practicing, he wants more and he’s not satisfied with what he’s doing because there is, I think, another level from him” (via Arsenal’s official website).

“It goes without saying that he is surrounded by amazing players, but there is a noticeable difference in his confidence and he is now giving it his all in games and winning football matches, which is fantastic.”

Kai Havertz’s “football brain” is praised by Arteta.
Havertz isn’t even an all-around striker, which makes his goal-scoring ability even more remarkable.

However, Arteta claims that the 25-year-old’s “football brain” as an attacking midfielder provides him another dimension that makes defenders’ lives miserable.

The Spaniard continued, “You can tell [his confidence has grown], he takes the ball and he runs with the ball.”

The way he controls the ball and positions himself in the box, he is exerting maximum pressure and going all out. Because of his football intelligence, he plays as a nine and is an offensive midfielder. You never know where he will be. His current concentration is on “I’m going to win the game, I’m going to do it,” which is something else entirely.