Criticism has surged towards Arsenal’s standout player Kai Havertz on social platforms after Bayern Munich ousted his team from the UEFA Champions League.
The Gunners suffered a 1-0 loss at the Allianz Arena on April 17, culminating in a 2-1 aggregate defeat in the quarterfinals.
The decisive blow came from Havertz’s compatriot Joshua Kimmich.Havertz has undergone a career revival since his transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal last summer. With 10 goals and five assists in 45 appearances across competitions, he silenced many skeptics.
Yet, against Bayern, the 24-year-old faltered to replicate his recent brilliance, notably in his false nine role, managing just one shot despite winning five aerial duels out of six.
Arsenal entered the Bayern clash on the heels of a disheartening 2-0 home loss to Aston Villa in the league, leaving Mikel Arteta’s side teetering on the brink of a trophyless season.
While Arteta earned praise for leading Arsenal to their first Champions League quarterfinal since 2010, their journey halted there, with Bayern set to face Real Madrid in the semis post a victory over Manchester City.Fans directed ire at Havertz for his subdued display against Bayern.
One fan lamented the hefty £65 million investment in Havertz, attributing it to Arsenal’s stagnation for four years, branding him an “absolute nonentity” devoid of elite traits.
Havertz’s positional shift into midfield for Arsenal’s pivotal league encounter against Aston Villa on April 14 drew scrutiny.
This move, seemingly to accommodate Leandro Trossard, raised eyebrows, especially since it didn’t yield the desired outcome.
Arsenal’s 2-0 loss, punctuated by goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins, dashed their title hopes.
Don Hutchison criticized Arteta’s decision, suggesting Jorginho as a better option to dictate play.After Arsenal’s setback, they find themselves trailing league leaders Manchester City by two points with six games left.
Despite Havertz’s resurgence, his performance will be eclipsed if it fails to translate into silverware for the club.