Thierry Henry was once referred to by certain Arsenal fans as “the French Perry Groves” at a different stage in the club’s history. The club’s all-time leading scorer infamously needed over two months to net his first goal in the English game, and in those early weeks, the footballing world lacked patience.
In the beginning of his Arsenal career, Dennis Bergkamp also received harsh criticism. He struggled against Hartlepool United in the League Cup and was called “Hartle-Fool” by a tabloid publication because he failed to score in his first seven appearances for the team. “Bergy” was referred to be a “waste of money” in another headline.
There are lessons to be gained from the past, thus Kai Havertz, who has already sparked a heated debate after just three league games, may find solace in the past as he continues to get used to life in north London. One could argue that certain club followers would gain something from looking back at the past.
These are unanticipatedly difficult times for Havertz, and many would argue that they are unfairly so. Only a few months into his Arsenal career, he already seems to have established himself as the subject of the most polarizing debate among club followers and in the mainstream and alternative media.
Havertz was the talk of north London even before Saturday’s game versus Fulham got underway. Before the game, this reporter overheard a group of Arsenal supporters arguing over the German in a crowded tube near Holloway Road. While two of them felt he had performed admirably against Crystal Palace, the other two felt he should be promptly benched.
In today’s football, it might be difficult to find the middle ground, and this is especially true on social media. Havertz’s social media profiles were inundated with predictable negative comments following his underwhelming performance against Fulham. “Leave Arsenal,” one said. Another said, “Lazy player.” “Havertz out,” a third person yelled.
Of course, this animosity is nothing new, but it has been amazing to watch how rapidly Havertz has gained notoriety since leaving Chelsea. After all, the 24-year-old has only logged 236 total Premier League minutes while wearing an Arsenal jersey.
There must be more to it than just performances; despite the fact that Havertz performed poorly on Saturday against Fulham, he displayed encouraging traits throughout the preseason, against Palace, and in the Community Shield triumph over Manchester City.
At this early stage of the campaign, it feels that the early reaction towards Havertz is reflective of the changing demands at Arsenal. The new season has brought a new pressure for Mikel Arteta and his players, and the club’s supporters are now expecting a serious challenge for the league title. Last year, the title charge was a happy surprise. Now, it is a requirement.
An inevitable consequence of heightened expectation is lowered patience and, through no real fault of his own (aside, perhaps, from his subpar performance against Fulham), Havertz seems to have become the first victim of those shifts in attitude. Would the response to his showing against Fulham have been quite so strong 12 months ago? One can only speculate, but it seems unlikely.
There are additional elements at work. The third most expensive player in Arsenal history, behind Nicolas Pepe and Declan Rice, was Havertz, who cost £65 million. The fact that Havertz is holding Emile Smith Rowe, the academy graduate and hometown hero, off the team and the cost itself both add pressure.
Havertz’s arrival from Chelsea hasn’t improved his situation either. Petr Cech, David Luiz, Willian, and Jorginho have all been acquired by Arsenal from Stamford Bridge since 2015, following in William Gallas’ footsteps. Since his arrival in January, Jorginho has made a positive contribution, while the other three have often fallen short of expectations. Willian in particular performed abhorrently.
Havertz very likely found himself on the back foot, with certain fans at least, as a result of the sneer from Chelsea fans who claim that Arsenal keep signing “Chelsea rejects.” He has to put in just a little bit more effort as a former Chelsea player if he wants the support of the supporters of his new team.
It’s possible that Havertz’s movement pattern is also contributing. He does not erupt around the pitch like, say, Gabriel Martinelli or Jesus Gabriel. Because of his large stature and lack of vigor, he may appear to be making less effort. Although appearances can be deceiving, Havertz is currently travelling 11.9 kilometers per 90 minutes while wearing an Arsenal jersey, compared to 10.8 kilometers for Chelsea last year.
Whether you think it’s fair or unfair, all of these things are working against Havertz right now as he adjusts to a new position on his new team. The fact that he has played in front of a different left-back in each of his three league games so far this season hasn’t made his task any simpler. Life will undoubtedly be simpler once Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jesus are back in the starting lineup.
Both Arsenal and Arteta are certain that Havertz will succeed and that he can contribute significantly to the team for the ensuing five years. The magnitude of their commitment to him is evidence of that. However, the fans lacks patience, and it says a lot about the shifting atmosphere at Arsenal that there is already pressure on the German to make progress, beginning with Sunday’s game against Manchester United.