Exclusive: 'Pressure' penalty to end Arsenal drought will boost Kai Havertz confidence - Martin Keown

Martin Keown has told TNT Sports that Kai Havertz will have more confidence in front of goal after opening his account for the Gunners, and can take inspiration from the likes of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.

Havertz, a £65 million summer signing from rivals Chelsea, made an inauspicious start to life in north London and failed to score in nine appearances in all competitions.

With the German’s performances continuously under the microscope, he was handed an opportunity when the Gunners were awarded a second penalty in their 4-0 win at the Vitality Stadium – a chance he seized with both hands.

Off the back of the 24-year-old’s first goal for the club, former Arsenal icon and TNT Sports pundit Keown says Havertz can go from strength to strength and praised Arteta for keeping faith in the player so far.

“You could say it was only from the penalty spot but nonetheless, that put a bit of pressure on him,” said Keown, speaking ahead of Arsenal's trip to Lens in the Champions League on Tuesday, which you can watch from 19:00 UK time on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+. “I think that basically, the manager wants more from him. He looked like he'd lost his place. [Fabio] Vieira came in and got injured, so he's got back in.

“But obviously Arteta is somebody that is very patient and believes a lot in the player. But it's up to the player to take that opportunity.

“I don't know if he was bought as a centre-forward or as a midfield player, he's getting games, but such is the clamour for a first-team place that you've got to perform every week.

“I like the fact that the manager is sticking with him, though your position has to be on the line.

“He's still in those sort of formative days in an Arsenal shirt, but I'd like to see a little bit more. Maybe this goal now will give him that confidence in front of goal, because I think that's one area where he hasn't looked confident.

“He was certainly confident to take the penalty, and there would have been a lot of pressure on it. So that will help him when he finds himself in similar situations in front of goal.”

Arsenal remain unbeaten in league and cup so far this season and the emphatic win against the Cherries sees Mikel Arteta’s side sit third in the Premier League, one point behind pacesetters Manchester City.

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring in the first half before captain Martin Odegaard doubled their advantage before half-time from the spot.

When the Gunners were awarded a second penalty after the break, Odegaard was seen in conversation with team-mates before Havertz stepped up.

After converting from 12 yards, Arsenal players swarmed on the summer arrival, enthusiastically celebrating his first goal.

Keown believes that the team spirit and togetherness shown by this Arsenal should encourage Havertz to kick on.

The former favourite also suggested the Havertz – who scored the winning goal for Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final – showed bravery to take on penalty duty given his start to life in red and white, while he challenged him to follow the example of some other club legends.

“I think it was magnanimous from the captain, because he obviously wants him to succeed,” Keown added. “The players want him to step forward. The fact that he took that challenge was also impressive and promising that he didn't turn his back on the penalty.

“He wanted it, which says a little bit about his character, because he's had a few problems in front of goal.

“It becomes almost like a soap opera. I think people should be given time to bed in, and then we make a judgement a bit further down the line.

“I mean, he's a Champions League winner, and a goalscorer in the final. So we need to look at the positives, what he can bring to the team. And this is a sort of game where maybe he kind of introduces himself properly as an Arsenal player.

“I'm not suggesting he's in the level of [Dennis] Bergkamp, or Sol Campbell, or [Thierry] Henry, but those guys all had quite slow starts in an Arsenal shirt. And it took some time. But once they got going, you couldn't stop them. So let's see if he's in that group.”

Arsenal’s latest victory also saw Bukayo Saka substituted looking in discomfort. The winger came off early in the Gunners’ draw at home to Tottenham a week earlier and missed training for most of the week according to Arteta.

Keown believes Saka should remain one of the first name’s on the Arsenal teamsheet but says his substitutions are necessary as a means of protecting him from being "targeted" by rival players.

“I think you've got a play him,” he said. “The thing is he needs more protection. Everybody tries to get tight to him. Everyone's leaving a bit on him.

“This guy is tough as steel. He's not one of them that will fall over. So, whenever I see him go down, I know it's something real.

“He's one of those players that we have to protect obviously, from an England point of view, from an Arsenal point of view. But you know he's the player that is targeted. The manager, I'm sure will, whenever the team is ahead, try and get him off.

“I just feel that he's one of those where you’ve got to try to read the scripts where you can get in front, and get him off sometimes.”

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