Arsenal sent a strong message in the title race with a dominant 5-1 victory over Manchester City, but questions remain over Kai Havertz’s confidence in front of goal.
The German forward found himself one-on-one with City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega early in the match but opted to pass to Martin Ødegaard instead of taking the shot himself.
While the decision led to Arsenal’s opening goal, many saw it as a sign of hesitation. Later, Havertz missed a golden opportunity to double his team’s lead, firing wide after a mistake from Ortega.
Gary Neville didn’t hold back in his assessment, declaring, “He didn’t want it! Havertz is having a confidence crisis.” Jamie Carragher echoed the sentiment at halftime, criticizing his lack of decisiveness.
Despite his struggles, Havertz found redemption in the second half, scoring Arsenal’s fourth goal to the delight of the Emirates crowd. Neville noted, “For Havertz, he didn’t have much time to think about it. It’s natural.”
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry acknowledged Havertz’s struggles but defended his decision to pass for the opener. “When you’re lacking confidence, Ødegaard is a better option. When you score, you’re right—so he was right!”
With Arsenal pushing for the title, Mikel Arteta will hope Havertz can regain his confidence in front of goal.