Mikel Arteta praised goalscorer Kai Havertz as he celebrated his 200th match as Arsenal manager by securing a late 1-0 win at London rivals Brentford to take his side to the top of the Premier League table with a third of the season gone.
Havertz, Arsenal’s big summer signing from Chelsea, has struggled to find his best form and his own previous goal came in another narrow away win, at Bournemouth.
A relieved Arteta grabbed his German international as they celebrated on the pitch afterwards and took him to be serenaded by the jubilant Arsenal supporters.
Arteta said afterwards: “I think that’s the beauty of it. If things come easy, you don’t value them. If things came easy then he wouldn’t have got the reception he got today with everybody hugging him and telling him how much we love him.
“He’s an example for all of us to do what you have to do when you have difficulties. It’s a great example for the team. We cannot be happier that a big game like him won the game for the team.”
Brentford provided a really stubborn resistance to Arteta’s otherwise uninspiring attack, with only a first half disallowed finish from Leandro Trossard to show for their dominance in terms of possession.
Arteta added: “Against these blocks, and against teams that defend the box like this, you need this kind of profile. Kai is exceptional at that. He won the game in that action for us.
“I prefer to score three in the first half. We created some big chances to score and we had the disallowed goal. But, if you don’t, the team needs to have that resilience. It shows as well the impact and the importance of the finishers. Today they were crucial again.”
Versatile Havertz scored for Germany in midweek playing at left-back and Arteta remarked how adaptable the 24-year-old has become and what makes him such a valuable player.
He explained: “First of all his quality, because a player that can play in different positions needs a lot of qualities to do that. Then that he puts his head down and drives the team. He does that in any position I ask him, it’s the same.”
“He fully deserves those celebrations. When you are there sometimes and you have to face it and he’s done that. He didn’t hide. So now go and face the beautiful moment as well because you deserve it. I knew he wasn’t going to do that so I had to push him.”
The match also marked a rare opportunity for an unusually nervous goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, as he replaced on loan David Raya, who was unable to play against his parent club.
Asked about Ramsdale’s nerves and errors, Arteta responded: “This is football. I’m so happy with the team, the way the team performed with the clean sheet. We move on. So happy.
“He has big courage and big personality and that’s what why we love him. It’s a joy as a manager to watch this kind of reaction [to see his team-mates supporting him. The players showing love to each other. It doesn’t get any better than that.
“Today is my 200th game and when I see players who behave like that a staff that is smiling, I’m so happy and I cannot be prouder and more grateful for everybody that’s been with us every single day to make my job more enjoyable.”
