We are set up in the Arsenal Community Center near the cup carpet and two indoor football pitches waiting for Kai Havertz to come and join us for a chat and some Monday afternoon cups.
As we do, there’s a lot of noise coming from one of the pitches, we walk over to find Haverts and Aleksandr Zinchenko playing competitive soccer with a neurodiverse community group.
The rivalry between the two is heating up and I’m thinking ‘this is normal between two teammates at a community event.’
“No one in our team wants to lose.” Havertz explains to me. “We play so many little games when we go on away trips, it’s competitive wherever we go. I’ve got to beat him or he’s going to go to practice tomorrow and take the **** out of me.”
Although the German international has only been at the club for a short time, you can see how comfortable he is with his teammates, the community and the Arsenal staff.
“I’ve been here for over a year, but it feels like years. I know everyone so well and I feel at home.”
Well, the rivalry didn’t end on the football field as things got very tasty when the pair took to the field with a senior group who were happy to share their wisdom with the players.
Arsenal player Kai Havertz celebrates with his teammates
I had tried a few cups earlier and failed and explained to Havertz that it was harder than it looked.
After the first four attempts, he turned to me and said, “You were right about that.” A rare moment in my own career.
Zinchenko entertains everyone on the mat, suffers when the ball just rolls and celebrates especially loudly.
“Around October and November, it was a difficult period, (we) play a lot of games abroad, some players were traveling to South America and it was difficult for all of us.
“But we’re very happy to be back together. It’s four months until the next team break and everyone is ready for this time, everyone is very happy to be back.”
Sunday, December 8 at 1:00 p.m
Start at 14:00
The change in fortunes also coincided with the return of Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, a close friend of Havertz’s at the Gunners, and as soon as I mention his name, the German smiles as he explains what it’s like to play beside him.
“It’s pretty cool to me. He’s just a wizard,” Havertz continued.
“He makes things so easy on the pitch, he has the confidence to turn games around, even in bad moments he takes the ball and does something with it. He’s a very important player for us.”
The Norwegian is back and Arsenal are flying once again, scoring 13 goals in their last three games, having managed just 12 in their previous nine games, with Odegor conceding seven.But does this mean that? Arsenal are back in the title race.
“Arsenal” player Martin Odegaard made gestures during the Chelsea-Arsenal match of the English Premier League.
“It’s still early in the season and a lot can happen. For me personally, I think the Premier League is getting tougher every year,” continues Havertz.
“Liverpool are playing at the highest level week in and week out and I have to trust them. But (there are) a lot of games to play so we will definitely be ready to fight.”
I turn the conversation to Arsenal’s upcoming battle against Manchester United, but we’re interrupted by Zinchenko clearing the stands with the ball right next to where we’re standing.
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Mikel Arteta has praised Bukayo Saka for his continuous desire to improve and has responded to a question about the winger’s output comparing him to Cristiano Ronaldo.
No time for apologies, just retreating ready for his next attempt, such is his competitive nature.
This time he nails it, and proceeds to shout, run and punch the air in celebration, to the delight of the watching crowd and his Arsenal team-mate, who tells me how much he’s loving life at Arsenal right now;
“I’m enjoying every second. It’s the best thing I could do. I’m very happy for everyone’s support during my time. I’m just starting and I hope to continue to be in good shape and play well to win titles.”
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Martin Odegaard talks about his return from injury and Arsenal’s hopes this season
Havertz has now scored as many Premier League goals for Arsenal (26) as he has for Chelsea in 42 fewer games and has flourished under Mikel Arteta.
But as time ticks down on a wonderful community day that also saw Jurijen Timbers and Raheem Sterling appear at the Arsenal Community Centre, Havertz tells me of the joy he gets from this special community;
“We get so much from our community, we get so much love. Even when we come now, they’re so happy to see us. It’s time to give something back, to see so many happy faces : to spend time with them and make them smile, it’s very nice.”
Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring for Arsenal
It was certainly a treat for everyone involved, who benefit so much from the Arsenal Community Days, to see their heroes, with a 60-year-old Brazilian man who called himself ‘Pele’ (to me anyway) describing it as the best of his life. one of the days.
Arsenal also took players to two local hospitals and they continue to strive to do more for their community, something the club is very proud of.
On the field, Haverts is sure that success is close to the “armymen”.
“There’s still a lot of things in the team that we can develop and be better at and I’m sure the next couple of years will be great for us and I think everyone will be ready for that.”
