Martin Keown has now warned Arsenal to protect one player at all costs ahead of this weekend’s tie with Tottenham Hotspur.
Mikel Arteta and his side will certainly be on a high right now having beaten London rivals Chelsea 5-0 last night.
The victory felt decisive not only in terms of the three points and the confidence it provokes, but Arsenal definitely now know their strongest side.
Perhaps some personnel are still interchangeable, Gabriel Martinelli could easily replace Leandro Trossard for example.
But it’s now clear that Thomas Partey needs to play in the pivot and Kai Havertz as the false nine in Arsenal’s final four games.
Arteta’s team are immeasurably better balanced with that set-up, and it would be a surprise if any changes were made ahead of Spurs.
Of course, that means leaving Gabriel Jesus on the bench for two games in a row whilst fully fit – something that has probably never happened in his Arsenal career.
That being said, Martin Keown was absolutely convinced that Kai Havertz was this team’s star man when speaking on TNT Sports’ coverage last night.
Martin Keown says Arsenal need to protect Kai Havertz at all costs ahead of Tottenham
Speaking at full-time, Keown recalled a time when Havertz was perceived as something of a passenger in games, saying he was the opposite of that right now.
He stated: “There was a suggestion when he first came here that he was a bit passive in the way that he played but nothing passive in his performance tonight.
“I thought he was outstanding. Get him off as soon as possible, huge game against Spurs at the weekend, you need to protect him.”
Of course, Havertz and all of his Arsenal teammates will now enjoy a short period of rest before Sunday’s derby.
Liverpool travel to Everton tonight, Manchester City to Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow, and Arsenal fans and players will be willing points to dropped.
Two tricky away fixtures, but games Arsenal’s title-rivals will likely manage to navigate.
Arsenal can simply just hope at this point that both Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp’s sides are beginning to feel the ‘scoreboard pressure’ that the Gunners are creating.
And even if City do beat Brighton tomorrow, Arsenal can still maintain their four-point gap ahead of their rivals before they play again should they beat Spurs.
All that being said, Mauricio Pochettino wasn’t happy with something said about Arsenal last night.
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