"Happy for him": Mikel Arteta blown away by 26yo Arsenal star after 1-0 win vs Chelsea
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta heaped praise on Kai Havertz following the club’s 1-0 win over Chelsea in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners went into the game with a 3-2 lead from the first leg and produced a splendid defensive performance. The Blues never came close to scoring over 90 minutes.
Havertz came off the bench for Arsenal and made his mark against his former club. The German star scored a dramatic winner with literally the last kick in the 97th minute.
Speaking after the victory, Arteta said that everybody associated with Havertz will be ‘happy for him’ and the 26-year-old ‘fully deserves’ his special moment against the Blues.
He told Arsenal.com: “Super. I think not only me. I think everybody who knows Kai a little bit feels genuinely happy for him in a special way, because he deserves the best.
“The way he works, the way he treats people, the way he behaves every single day.
“And today was a special moment for him. And I hope that he enjoyed it, because he fully deserves that.”
Havertz made his long-awaited return to the starting line-up against Kairat Almaty in the Champions League last month. He made an instant impact with a goal and an assist as a number 10.
The German was rewarded with a starting position against Leeds United in the Premier League as a result.
Havertz had a different role against the Blues, coming on as a centre-forward off the bench.
He had an easy finish to put the Gunners through to their first Cup final since 2020. The club will face either Manchester City or Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 22.
The late winner should also boost Havertz’s confidence. He has looked like a new signing for the Gunners after a lengthy absence with a knee injury sustained in the season opener in August.
Arsenal’s immediate focus will shift to Saturday’s league clash against Sunderland at home. The Gunners have a six-point lead over second-placed Manchester City and are seven points ahead of Aston Villa.
Man City and Villa face tricky games against Liverpool and Bournemouth on the road, both in good form. Arteta’s side could go nine and 10 points clear of their title challengers if results go their way.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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