Mikel Arteta is pleased with the rapid progress Kai Havertz has shown in recent weeks. However, he acknowledges that his team still lacks the experience that Granit Xhaka brought.
The Arsenal manager reluctantly allowed the long-serving Swiss international to leave in the summer after Xhaka had an outstanding season at the club.
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Arteta took a significant risk by essentially replacing Xhaka with Kai Havertz, agreeing to a £65million deal with the intention of transforming the 24-year-old into a midfielder.
Havertz took some time to adapt to his new role, but after a challenging start, he seems to be understanding the tactical demands of his new manager, evident in his three goals in the last four appearances.
Despite Havertz’s notable improvement, Arteta concedes that the absence of Xhaka is still noticeable for a team that entered the weekend as Premier League leaders.
He told Sky Sports: ‘He was a huge player for us. We miss Granit, yes. I miss him as well because I love him as a person.’
On Havertz recent form, Arteta added: ‘I think everybody feels what is around them.
‘When it’s not that positive, it can get to you. When it’s very positive, it can get to you too.
‘But I think he felt the support of all his team-mates and his club behind him. And now, he is feeling the support of our people, which is extremely important and is something which can really amplify his potential. That is why I think now we are seeing a great version.
‘We can’t just have one idea for what we want. In the end, we have to make that position, that role and the demands it has, fit the specific qualities of the player, to empower those qualities.
‘If something is not working, we have to slightly change it and adapt it because, in the end, what we want is that he impacts the team in the most positive way.
‘I think he needs to feel comfortable in order to deliver that.’
