Arsenal star Kai Havertz was heavily criticised when he first arrived from Chelsea, but he is now flourishing under Mikel Arteta.
Arteta raised eyebrows when he chose to spend £65m on the German, who had struggled at Chelsea, and a slow start to life in a midfield role at the Emirates quickly raised the pressure on him.
However, in recent months he has excelled as a centre-forward, and has been nominated for the Premier League Player Of The Month award for his performances in April, which saw him score against Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton.
He has now overtaken Gabriel Jesus in the pecking order when it comes to centre-forward options, with his superior finishing ability one of several factors which has seen him excel, and Jesus has now praised his teammate for the improvement he has shown over the course of the season.
Gabriel Jesus praises Kai Havertz confidence after Arsenal improvement
Speaking to Arsenal club media, Jesus praised the way Havertz has performed in recent months, and highlighted his increased confidence.
“Everyone here knows how important it is to be fit and playing, and Kai has been fit and playing well, scoring goals,” he stated.
“The coach believes in him and that’s so important for a player’s confidence. It wasn’t easy for him at first but we supported him and now he’s playing with a smile on his face.”
Confidence has been crucial for Kai Havertz at Arsenal
Havertz was a big talent at Bayer Leverkusen prior to his move to Chelsea, but despite impressing in occasional flashes, the Germany star did not enjoy his time at Stamford Bridge.
READ MORE: All Mikel Arteta signings at Arsenal ranked from worst to best
Chelsea’s problems both on and off the pitch in the last two years meant that it was difficult for any attacking player to thrive, and Havertz’s uncertainty over his positions saw him lose confidence under several different managers.
Even this season, he struggled when moving between midfield and striker roles, and it took a long time for him to perform to his best level. Now he has found his confidence again, he is thriving under Arteta and is showcasing the talent he originally displayed when he broke through in Germany.
Havertz’s recent form has helped Arsenal challenge for the title, and should they somehow beat Manchester City in the race for glory, his goals will have played a huge part.