Football pundit Gary Neville has expressed his disappointment in Arsenal attacker Kai Havertz following their recent 3-1 victory over Liverpool. The former Manchester United defender criticized the German player for his 'languid' performance, stating that he failed to pose a significant threat to the Reds' defense during the match at Emirates.
Neville, speaking on Sky Sports post-match show after the match, pointed out that Havertz was not providing enough support or service to his teammates. This lack of contribution from a key player like Havertz could potentially hinder Arsenal's offensive capabilities and overall team performance.
Former Man United player, Gary Neville, said:
"Yep. [There was money available in the summer] and they spent £65m on Havertz. I watched him today Havertz when he's moving into the box, he's a different type of player, but he's quite languid. There's no change of pace into the box, there's no change of direction, there's no little darts."
Neville also criticized Arsenal for signing Havertz for big fee
The football pundit further questioned Arsenal's decision to sign Havertz from Chelsea. He implied that this move might have been a mistake considering the player’s current form and contribution on the pitch. However, it is worth noting that players often need time to adapt when they switch clubs and leagues.
In contrast with Havertz’s performance, Neville highlighted what other two strikers - Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah - bring onto the pitch for Gunners. While he did not provide specific details about their contributions in this context, it can be inferred that these players are currently offering more value than Havertz based on Neville’s comments.
Gary Neville added:
"And then I think of Jesus when he plays and he's everywhere but where you want him to be! He's everywhere Jesus, I love him to bits, but literally when you want him in the centre of the six-yard box he's probably on the right wing! Or at right-back! And then you look at Nketiah, who is probably the most natural [frontman] of all of them, but probably isn't up to the standard of the other two."
Gunners need to carry forward the momentum till the end
Despite criticism towards individual performances, as a team, Gunners had something to celebrate as they won 3-1 against Liverpool on Sunday, February 4th. This victory moved them within two points of league leaders Reds and into second place in Premier League standings.
However, their position could be short-lived if Manchester City wins their league game against Brentford scheduled for Monday, February 5th. A win by City would push them ahead of Gunners in the league table.
While Arsenal's victory over Liverpool is a significant achievement, Gary Neville's critique of Kai Havertz highlights potential areas of improvement for the team. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how Havertz responds to this criticism and whether he can elevate his performance to meet expectations.
