Arsenal were coasting at half-time last week only to be undone by two James Justin goals from nowhere. The Gunners did end up winning the game but they did so in dramatic last-gasp fashion.
Late heroics weren't needed against Southampton but they were given a scare on Saturday. Cameron Archer opened the scoring against the run of play but the Gunners fought back in deadly style.
Gabriel-Martinelli-Arsenal-Southampton
Almost single-handedly Kai Havertz decided to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and once his equaliser went in, Arteta rang the changes. Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Jorginho were all off. On came Gabriel Martinelli - scorer of Arsenal's second on the day - Leandro Trossard and new signing Mikel Merino. Boy did they make an impact?
By the time the whistle went at the end of 99 long minutes of play, it was 3-1 as Bukayo Saka capped off a fine individual afternoon. We want to talk about Havertz first, though.
Kai Havertz's performance in numbers
This time last year the German had just been gifted a charity penalty. Let's be honest, that's what it was.
Arsenal were in a comfortable position away at Bournemouth and Saka was about to put the ball down on the spotkick. Over came captain Martin Odegaard who whispered in the Englishman's ear before presenting the opportunity to Havertz. He duly obliged and the £65m signing was finally off and running in Arsenal colours.
Since that moment at the Vitality Stadium, the former Chelsea man has only gone from strength to strength. In fact, he's now one of the club's most important players. Gabriel Jesus, who?
Arteta trialled him as a no.8 following the departure of Granit Xhaka but the Germany international offers so much more up top. He's painted out as a false 9 but he's now blossoming into an elite centre forward.
Almost single-handedly Kai Havertz decided to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and once his equaliser went in, Arteta rang the changes. Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Jorginho were all off. On came Gabriel Martinelli - scorer of Arsenal's second on the day - Leandro Trossard and new signing Mikel Merino. Boy did they make an impact?
By the time the whistle went at the end of 99 long minutes of play, it was 3-1 as Bukayo Saka capped off a fine individual afternoon. We want to talk about Havertz first, though.
Kai Havertz's performance in numbers
This time last year the German had just been gifted a charity penalty. Let's be honest, that's what it was.
Arsenal were in a comfortable position away at Bournemouth and Saka was about to put the ball down on the spotkick. Over came captain Martin Odegaard who whispered in the Englishman's ear before presenting the opportunity to Havertz. He duly obliged and the £65m signing was finally off and running in Arsenal colours.
Since that moment at the Vitality Stadium, the former Chelsea man has only gone from strength to strength. In fact, he's now one of the club's most important players. Gabriel Jesus, who?
Arteta trialled him as a no.8 following the departure of Granit Xhaka but the Germany international offers so much more up top. He's painted out as a false 9 but he's now blossoming into an elite centre forward.
Kai-Havertz-Arsenal-Southampton
Havertz now has seven goals in seven straight home games and as a striker for Arsenal in Premier League action, he has registered 20 goal involvements in 20 games (12 goals and 8 assists), averaging one every 83 minutes.
Against Southampton, he proved exactly why he's so valuable. The way he took his goal was Robin van Persie-esque. The 25-year-old burst forward, took a few touches to get the ball into a commanding position before hammering it home via the post.
If that didn't sum up his display then a display of duel-winning right near the end of the contest did. Havertz entered a duel about 25 yards from goal in a central area and hustled and harried the visiting team into ceding possession, eventually winning it on the touchline and setting up another Arsenal attack.
"He takes the ball, he runs with the ball. On high press, he goes full gas. He is an attacking midfielder who plays as a nine. You don’t know where he is. He wants more, he is not satisfied. There is still another level [to come] from him." - Arteta on Havertz.
In total, he won seven duels which was perhaps every bit as important as his rasping equaliser on 58 minutes.
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