Jamie Carragher insists that Kai Havertz has been instrumental to Arsenal’s success in defense this year.
Mikel Arteta’s side has turned the corner since the beginning of 2024 and has not conceded many goals. They are one of the league’s leading scorers and have also boasted the stingiest defense in the division, keeping more clean sheets than any other team.
Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, alongside David Raya, have received a lot of praise for how the team has defended over the course of this season. However, Arsenal’s other players have also contributed to limiting the damage opponents can do to the team.
Speaking about their improvement at the back, Carragher said on Sky Sports:
“I think that Arsenal, defensively, are as good as anyone in Europe right now.
“They have definitely improved in 2024 better than in the first half of the season.
“One of the reasons for this is the role of Kai Havertz.
Adding: “He is a centre-forward, and he is helping Arsenal to do what they are doing right now, which is basically being so strong defensively, and that’s what has given them a great chance to win the Premier League.
“Arsenal has been as impressive as anyone defending and going forward as a team.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
The best teams defend from the front and that seems to be the case for us as we have been one of the strongest teams all-around this season.
Our attackers are taking good care of their defensive responsibilities and ensuring the defenders do not feel left alone.
ADMIN COMMENT
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You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
Arsenal will next Sunday play one of their biggest Epl match of the season. If not even likely will be their biggest of the season. At away to Man Utd at Old Traffor Stadium because of the importance of the outcome of the match to Arsenal.
In the past seasons, Arsenal playing away to Man Utd in the Epl at their Old Stadium. Has not been a good hunting ground for them. But a very difficult ground for the Gunners to get a result against the Red Devils.
No matter whichever manager/coach is incharge of them doesn’t deter them from beating the Gunners generally.
So therefore, for the Gunners to avoid defeat or being held to a draw game in the match by the Red Devils.
Arteta and the Gunners SHOULD prepare themselves fully, extraordinarily and specially to take on Erik Ten Hag’s coached and managed Red Devils team in the big game match encounter. And beat them heavily in the encounter unfailingly.
Irrespective of the outcome of if, the Fulham vs Man City match at Graven Cottage.next Saturday did go to the favour of Arsenal or not in this season’s title win race run-in. The Gunners SHOULD absolutely make SURE that they beat the Red Devils at their Old Trafford Stadium ground unfailingly..
thanks SAA, insightful
and your view on the article is…
When I read this kind of recognition regarding Kai Havertz, I automatically go back to the abuse he suffered from a section of the fans – you know the ones, the “realists” the “thinkers” the “superior educated ones ” and and my toes curl up in embarrassment at what was said.
His off the ball awareness is excellent and he seems to be wherever the action is as well.
Still needs a lot more polishing to become the diamond that is worthy of that reported £300k a week and he still might not make it to the very top, but he’s climbing the ladder week by week.
Kai has found consistency and is loved by the fans, he has
worked hard and shown character traits that are exemplary.. long may it last..
our strength in defence starts with the Odegaard/Havertz intense high press with Rice/Partey or Jorginho pairing behind them
that starves the opposition of any time on the ball, stifling creativity, resulting in very few shots of any quality on our goal, proven by our goals against in PL in 2024 being a tiny 8 goals in 16 games
meanwhile Arsenal have scored 51 goals in same PL fixtures
the whole ‘we desperately need £100m new striker as our first priority’ ignores the fact that our current #9 does a lot more than the ‘out-and-out striker’ lusted for
there is distinct risk the fantasy £100m striker makes Arsenal worse not better
the folly of measuring a players performance by one stat only, goals scored
Defensively and offensively Havertz has outperformed Xhaka that most here still think was not replaced by the acquisition of Kai Havertz,i was one of the few who supported Kai throughout and i hope he will get us through the remaining two games of the season with the rest of the players as we hope for a slip up from Man city.