Mikel Arteta justifies £65m Kai Havertz decision after clear plan culminates in Brentford winner

The German international has had plenty of doubters since his £65m summer arrival from Chelsea but he showed exactly why the Gunners wanted to sign him with his late winner at the Gtech Community Stadium

As the clock ticked down to 90 minutes at the Gtech Community Stadium, the watching Arsenal fans must have felt like they had seen this film before. Their stuttering attacking had struggled to break down a resilient Brentford defence despite a particularly offensive selection from Mikel Arteta. The 0-0 draw seemed inevitable.

Kai Havertz though, had different ideas. There have been limitless questions hanging over the German since his summer arrival from Chelsea. None more so than why exactly did Arsenal sign him?

While the additions of Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber made perfect sense, it wasn't immediately obvious where Havertz would fit. He had failed to ever really convince as a centre forward at Chelsea, while Arsenal already had Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah in that position. Many Blues observers would tell you that his best performances had come as a number 10, but Arsenal don't really play with that type of player. Even if you were to drop him into midfield then it would mean leaving out Martin Odegaard in the right-eight spot. You could maybe flip Havertz over to the left eight position but using both him and Odegaard in the biggest games felt too offensive, meaning that Arsenal had effectively paid of £65million for a squad player.

Five months into his time in north London and those questions hadn't really been answered. Havertz had looked decent in cameos as a false nine and in flashes as a midfielder. There had still been no consistent run to suggest what exactly the 24-year-old was going to bring into the squad.

On Saturday though, we finally saw it. With seconds remaining, Bukayo Saka picked up the ball on the right-hand side before cutting in and floating a deep cross to the back post. Waiting there at the back post Havertz to nod home.

This was his first competitive goal from open play in an Arsenal shirt, but those who have been watching Havertz long before the start of the summer will know this kind of run all too well. Back in 2018 while with Bayer Leverkusen the German made a habit of scoring goals arriving late into the box.

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Take his one against Fortuna Dusseldorf from that season where he is lurking on the edge of the box as Kevin Volland dribbles down the right by-line.

Volland then checks back on to his left to cross, by which point Havertz is on the move towards the penalty spot.

Volland's cross then meets Havertz perfectly on the head and he is able to nod home to give his side a commanding lead. Havertz scored 20 goals that season and it is exactly this kind of contribution that Arteta is looking for from the German.

"Absolutely yes," The Spaniard said in his post-match press conference when asked if this was the kind of goal Havertz had been signed to score. "Against these blocks, and against teams that defend the box like this, you need this kind of profile. He’s exceptional at that. Today he won the game in that action for us."

He may never be a £65million player, but in this day and age what even is that? Instead, Havertz gives Arteta another weapon in his arsenal. This is exactly what the Spaniard has wanted since he arrived - a Swiss army knife squad capable of breaking down any barrier an opponent posed. Plan A for Arsenal is great, but when it doesn't work having a plan B or C is something they've lacked. With Havertz in the squad they finally have what Arteta has been looking for.

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