"I Don’t Think He’s Improved Much": Ex-Chelsea Coach Claims Kai Havertz Hasn’t Progressed Since Moving to Arsenal

This week, former Chelsea assistant coach Jody Morris shared his thoughts about Kai Havertz, suggesting that the German midfielder has shown little improvement since leaving Chelsea for Arsenal. Morris, who worked closely with Havertz when he first joined Chelsea, expressed his doubts about Havertz’s progress at his new club.

On Sunday, during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, Havertz thought he had scored against his former club, only for the goal to be disallowed. Havertz even celebrated by shushing the Chelsea crowd, stirring up some strong emotions among fans. This incident seemed to push Chelsea fans to turn against the player, despite his past achievements for the club, like scoring the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final. For many Chelsea supporters, Havertz’s celebration felt disrespectful and seemed to “burn bridges” with his former club.

Jody Morris, who was Chelsea’s assistant coach under Frank Lampard when Havertz arrived at the club, isn’t convinced that Havertz has improved much at Arsenal. During an interview with talkSPORT’s White & Jordan, Morris shared his perspective, saying, “The numbers might suggest he’s doing better, but I don’t think there’s a huge difference in him.”

Morris also mentioned that Havertz’s best position on the field is still unclear. “There are still questions over what his best position is,” he explained. Although Havertz has grown more comfortable in his role at Arsenal, Morris still sees areas of inconsistency in his play.

Morris sympathized with Havertz’s initial challenges at Chelsea. When Havertz and fellow German Timo Werner arrived, they joined the club during the COVID-19 pandemic, which made it harder for them to adapt to a new country and team. Morris described them as “young lads” adjusting to a new league in difficult times.

Despite those early challenges, Morris acknowledged that Havertz has shown some growth at Arsenal, crediting manager Mikel Arteta for helping the player develop. “Arteta has done a real good job with him,” Morris added.

While some Arsenal fans praised Havertz after his arrival, many continue to debate his role in the team and whether he’s truly adapted. Morris highlighted that Arsenal’s need for a strong “number nine” – a central striker – raises more questions about Havertz’s role. Even though he has shown flashes of talent, Havertz’s performances have often been inconsistent.

Morris described Havertz as a player who “on his day can score goals,” but also someone who can go through stretches without creating many scoring chances. The former coach believes Havertz has potential but needs to show more consistency to reach the next level.