Ian Wright has backed Kai Havertz’s contributions as Arsenal’s false nine, insisting the German is “doing a good job” despite his inconsistent finishing in the 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City.
Arsenal’s emphatic win at the Emirates extended their lead over Pep Guardiola’s side to nine points, with Havertz playing a key role.
He capitalized on a Manuel Akanji mistake to set up Martin Odegaard’s opener within two minutes but later missed a golden opportunity to extend the lead.
Though Erling Haaland equalized early in the second half, Arsenal responded immediately through Thomas Partey. Myles Lewis-Skelly, Havertz, and Ethan Nwaneri then put the game out of reach, sealing a statement victory.
Wright emphasized the importance of Arsenal’s clinical finishing, something they have lacked at times this season. “You need to take those chances to get comfortable in the game and keep working,” he said on SuperSport. “Even against a team like City, if you keep finishing your chances, you demoralize them.”
Havertz, who finally got on the scoresheet in the second half, received praise from Wright despite his earlier miss. “With the first chance, he just had to get it on target. But when it’s 3-1, you’re in a different headspace,” he explained.
Wright also defended Havertz’s decision to pass to Odegaard instead of shooting for Arsenal’s first goal. “Whatever people say about Kai, he made the right decision. He’s not an out-and-out striker, but he’s doing a good job for us.”
The win strengthens Arsenal’s title challenge, with Havertz proving he can play a crucial role in Arteta’s system.