A source close to the player has now lifted the lid on why Kai Havertz celebrated scoring his brace when Arsenal beat Chelsea.
Kai Havertz did not hold back in his celebrations as he helped Arsenal put Chelsea to the sword recently.
The Gunners thrashed their capital city rivals 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium just over a week ago. Havertz was in fine form that day, as he struck twice against his former club.
How Arsenal striker Kai Havertz returned to haunt Chelsea
The German was picked to lead the line against the Blues, and was perhaps a bit tentative in his efforts to spearhead the attack in the first half. Havertz was criticised for spurning a clear shooting opportunity, and Mikel Arteta’s side only held a 1-0 lead at the break thanks to Leandro Trossard’s early opener.
However, the floodgates opened in the second half and Havertz found his clinical edge. With 57 minutes on the clock, the 24-year-old latched onto a glorious Martin Odegaard pass. He took the ball in his stride and lifted it into the net before wheeling away to celebrate with the rapturous Arsenal fans.
Less than ten minutes later, he made it 4-0 when, after the some nimble footwork in the box, he fired an accurate low shot into the bottom corner which went in via the post. Once again, the attacker expressed his joy.
Why Kai Havertz celebrated his goals against Chelsea
Journalist Simon Phillips, writing on Substack, has offered his insight into why Havertz celebrated his goals when it has become something of a norm for players to not do so when they’ve netted against their former club.
He said “Speaking to someone close to Havertz on his celebration, apparently Kai felt ‘it didn’t feel like the Chelsea he played for’ — he felt it when shaking hands with the players before the game — these were not his ex-teammates largely. He pretty much felt like he was playing against any other team. It’s not the club he once played for.”
Arsenal paid £65 million to prise the Germany international away from Stamford Bridge in the recent summer transfer window.
He arrived at the Emirates Stadium clearly bereft of confidence, and it took him some time to settle in North London. Havertz’s time at Chelsea has since been described as “traumatic,” and at first he didn’t look comfortable at Arsenal either.
However, he has since rediscovered his best form and has been a hugely important play for the Gunners in the second half of the season. Havertz has now proven his critics wrong and has made himself Arteta’s first choice striker.