Fans slam Arsenal star despite 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest (Image source: Getty,X)
Fans slam Arsenal star despite 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest (Image source: Getty,X)
Kai Havertz has come in for a kicking for his performance in Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
With Viktor Gyokeres struggling, Havertz has been Mikel Arteta’s preferred option up front, starting all seven of Arsenal’s Premier League matches so far this season.
In a match in which the Gunners lacked attacking threat until Noni Madueke broke the deadlock, Havertz failed to impress.
The German missed arguably Arsenal’s best chance in the first half, heading over from Declan Rice’s free-kick. He subsequently fired wide from a tight angle before being substituted in the 66th minute for Gyokeres.
Havertz managed two shots, neither of which was on target. His performance earned him a rating of 6.3, according to Sofascore.
After the match, some Arsenal fans took to X to criticise Havertz’s performance.
One wrote:
“Please can they tell Havertz to stop the nonsense he does when he drifts to the right? It’s enough at this point. Thank you, Noni. You’ve saved our blushes. Konsa, that was as good as a goal. Nice recovery.”
Please can they tell Havertz to stop the nonsense he does when he drifts to the right ? It’s enough at this point Thank you Noni You’ve saved our blushes Konsa that was as good as a goal Nice recovery
Another tweeted:
“The haters were right, if Havertz was fit throughout all season, we will not have a trophy right now. Gyokeres needs to start from now on.”
The haters were right, if Havertz was fit through out all season we will not have a trophy right now. Gyokeres needs to start from now on.
A third remarked:
“Oops. That's not impressive by any stretch. This Havertz experiment must stop. And Arteta must fix this attack. I don't understand Arteta and this boring weekly football.”
It’s this same Havertz that Arteta said will score 30 goals. We’ll see.
Arsenal hero Madueke admits “tough game” after narrow win over Forest
Madueke was the Gunners’ knight in shining armour in a frantic clash at the City Ground. The England international came off the bench and scored with a deflected shot past Matz Sels in the 80th minute.
Speaking post-match, Madueke admitted that Forest made the game difficult and praised his side for showing grit and determination.
“They make it so difficult for you,” Madueke told Sky Sports. “It was a tough game. We're really happy all together. We showed grit and determination and showed a champion spirit. He [Arteta] said stick to the game plan. He said go out there and try to attack the opposition and be dangerous, be yourself and be good defensively.
“I had beaten him [his marker] on the outside a couple of times. I thought come inside and leather it. At times, maybe last year, this game might not have gone for us in the end. We have the extra belief and mentality.”
The result marked Arsenal’s first away league win against Forest since 2024. The Gunners had failed to score in either of their previous two visits to the City Ground.