Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has, on Saturday evening, responded to suggestions that sizable sections of the club’s fanbase have already started turning on summer signing Kai Havertz.
Arsenal, of course, marked their return to action a short time ago.
After rattling off two wins from two to start the Premier League season, the Gunners welcomed Marco Silva’s Fulham to The Emirates, hopeful of making it nine points from an available nine.
When all was said and done, however, an underwhelming display ultimately saw the hosts forced to settle for a share of the spoils, in a 2-2 draw.
This came after comeback goals on the part of Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah were wiped out by a decisive late equaliser from Fulham’s Joao Palhinha.
On the back of a disappointing day’s work for their side, it should therefore come as little surprise to hear of Arsenal’s fans making their frustrations very much known.
The player in question? Kai Havertz.
Those inside the Emirates were joined by droves of supporters online in taking aim at Havertz this evening, after the big-money summer arrival at The Emirates failed to make a telling impact once more against Fulham.
Incredible pass this by Havertz…
— Futbol Chelsea (@FutbolCheIsea) August 26, 2023
Speaking to the media post-match on Saturday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of the Arsenal faithful turning on his German international was put to the aforementioned Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners’ boss, however, was keen to play down the subject.
Instead, Arteta was insistent that the audible frustration with Havertz came as a result of an isolated incident, with the home crowd desperate for their side to push forward:
‘No,’ the Spaniard responded when asked directly if he feels that frustrations are mounting with Havertz. ‘I saw an action when he played backwards and he could have turned. That’s more I think the demands of everybody to play forward and to impact the game in the final third because we had the urgency to win.’
Arteta on if crowd are turning against Havertz:
No I saw an action when he played backwards and he could have turned. That’s more I think the demands of everybody to play forward and to impact the game in the final third because we had the urgency to win. https://t.co/NNz98V02oi— Kaya Kaynak (@kayakaynak97) August 26, 2023
Bournemouth 0-2 Tottenham: Match report, player ratings, fan reaction and more
