Kai Havertz stole the show as Arsenal beat Brighton on Saturday (Picture: Getty)
Rio Ferdinand has praised Kai Havertz and ‘respects’ the Arsenal star for proving his doubters wrong and silencing his critics this season.
Many raised their eyebrows when the Gunners splashed out £65m to sign the Germany international this summer after three underwhelming years at Chelsea and it took him time to win over Arsenal fans after somewhat of a slow start.
Havertz has been in fine form in recent weeks though – and has now scored more league goals for Arsenal this term than he ever did in a single Premier League season for Chelsea – with Gunners supporters now buzzing with their No.29.
The 24-year-old has conjured up nine goal involvements in his last seven Premier League games and stole the show in the 3-0 victory over Brighton last time out.
‘Shout out to Kai Havertz,’ Ferdinand told his FIVE podcast ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash against Bayern Munich on Tuesday. ‘Some of the fan base that he signed for didn’t even want him, wanted him out.
‘He said do you know what, you’re going to have him, you’re going to have to respect me. And he’s doing his thing. Respect to him.’
Havertz recently opened up about his summer move to the Emirates and admitted that he is absolutely loving life in north London.
Kai Havertz says he feels ‘extremely comfortable’ at Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
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‘I’m someone who doesn’t come out of my shell so easily in a new environment, for me it always takes a few weeks or a few months,’ he told Sky in Germany.
‘Nowadays, it definitely clicked. I feel extremely comfortable. I love the club, I love the players, the staff and love the fans. So for me it was absolutely the right thing to do and I’m just happy to be here and [to] fight for titles this year.
‘We still have two titles that can be won and now the important weeks of the season begin and I personally, and of course the whole team, will do everything to win titles.’
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