Kai Havertz: Arsenal forward praised for development by Martin Keown, Tom Lockyer - 'He's really at home'

Ex-Arsenal defender Martin Keown and Luton captain Tom Lockyer praised the improvement of Kai Havertz after the Gunners' 2-0 win over Luton at the Emirates Stadium.

Havertz put in an impressive display in Arsenal's comfortable victory over the Hatters playing as the striker. The win means Arsenal go top of the table for now on 30 points; one ahead of second-placed Liverpool.

Keown admits he "was not sure" about Havertz after his move from Chelsea in the summer for £65 million on an unspecified long-term contract, but believes he has become "really effective" for Arsenal.

He told TNT Sports: "It was one of those where I looked at it when he came in and I thought ‘I’m just going to hold up my opinion.’

"I wasn’t sure at the beginning. In the Community Shield, he played as a centre-forward and I didn’t see the work rate or the running into the channels, and [Eddie] Nketiah came in the next game and I saw that change.

"Then they moved him into midfield. Now he’s in his proper position as a front player. [He’s] very definitely [at his best there].

"He’s so intelligent; he ghosts through. As a centre-half, you want someone to mark, but when he keeps disappearing into midfield all the time you get a bit nervous, and suddenly he’s there with two or three other players, so he can be really effective and that’s working for Arsenal."

Lockyer added: "He’s really at home now. The amount of times he did double movement today where he went short off [Teden] Mengi and then spun in behind, and he would have got the ball if it was played to him.

"It might not get picked up by the cameras, but they’re the sort of movements that even if he doesn’t get it, he might get the next one. Then he’ll keep going and get the next one, and eventually something will happen to him.

"When someone works as hard as that, making those selfless runs, then something will fall in the end."

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