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Mikel Arteta has offered Kai Havertz advice on endearing himself to Arsenal’s fanbase after drawing comparisons between the German’s shaky start to life at the Emirates with his marriage.
Havertz struggled in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United and was hooked in the second half by Arteta after failing to make an impact when the score was level.
Gary Neville blated the 24-year-old, who joined from Chelsea this summer, for making a ‘right mess’ of a close-range chance in the first half, with Havertz also seeing what he initially believed was a penalty, overturned.
‘I said to him [Havertz] on Saturday when things are hard in the beginning when I met my wife it was hard in the beginning,’ Arteta told Sky Sports.
Kai Havertz cuts a dejected figure as he substituted in Sunday’s Premier League clash against Manchester United
The Arsenal midfielder has struggled to win over supporters since joining from Chelsea
Mikel Arteta (right) has urged Havertz to be persistent like he was with his wife Lorena (left)
‘I had to work and message, if she says yes on the first day it is probably no good.
‘[what won her over?] persistence, I think. We took the plane on Sunday, we took the metro. We win games, and that’s the beauty of it,’ he added.
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The bizarre piece of advice was revealed by an emotion Arteta who celebrated emphatically on the sidelines after Declan Rice scored a 96th minute winner for Arsenal against a battling United side.
Gabriel Jesus added a third before the final whistle blew and Arteta labelled the turnaround victory as a ‘beautiful’ moment after a difficult start to the new campaign for last season’s runners-up.
‘We work everyday for moments like this, it was beautiful at the end to celebrate at the end with the fans.
Arteta celebrates after Gabriel Jesus scores Arsenal’s third goal in their win over Man United
‘It shows that sport at this level is at about the small margins. I am jealous of Declan for scoring at the end like this. They are a dangerous team but we created the moments to win the game.
‘He [Rice] was outstanding, and I think the whole team as well. He gave his momentum when the team needed it. Really happy with the performance.
‘When I see a team that has that will to win, that eagerness to go and go, it’s beautiful, and the crowd loves that as well. Before we go into international break is always a long window, it is important to win today,’ he added.
Arsenal will return from the international break with a trip to Goodison Park on Sunday, September 17.
