Bournemouth is a place that holds fond memories for Kai Havertz.
In the eyes of Mikel Arteta, it was the turning point for Havertz’s time at Arsenal and the moment “everything started to click”.
The Gunners travelled there in September last year and, 2-0 up at half-time, they won a penalty just minutes after the break.
Martin Odegaard had slotted a penalty in the first half, but this time the Arsenal captain grabbed the ball and gave it to Havertz, who was yet to get off the mark since his £65million move from Chelsea.
The German calmly slotted the penalty and the Arsenal fans began belting his name out to the tune of ‘Waka Waka’ by Shakira.
“I think that was a turning point, for sure,” said Arteta, reflecting on that game at Bournemouth as Arsenal prepare to head there again on Saturday. “The players took ownership, which is the best thing.
“They decided to do something for the player. That straight away made him feel special, it made him feel respected and admired. Everybody was willing and wishing the best for him. He delivered.
“That day, the connection towards the supporters went to a different level as well and everything started to click. Since then, the story is unbelievable. His involvement in every match, what he produces to help us win matches is incredible and very positive obviously.”
Havertz’s rise then has, as Arteta says, been “unbelievable”. Even if that Bournemouth game a year ago was always viewed as a turning point, surely few could have envisaged the uplift that followed after.
The 25-year-old finished last season with 13 Premier League goals, his best tally since moving to England four years ago. Havertz looked reborn as a striker, giving Arsenal’s attack the focal point they craved, and he has picked up where he left off this season.
The German has scored six goals in 10 games so far and that has happened with the side’s best creative player, Odegaard, not being fit since the start of September.
“I think he’s an amazing role model,” said Arteta, when asked about Havertz’s transformation. “The way he behaves every day, the way he is as a person, the way he lives his life, how much he loves to play football to compete.
“Again, part of that at this level is to handle and manage difficult situations. I think he’s an amazing example of that.
“We believed that he could do it. He had qualities that we were certainly lacking but it was a big question mark because he wasn’t producing what we required at this level a year ago, two years ago. We believed that a change of environment could affect him in a really positive way.
“You have a player that is going to try his very best to try and accomplish the objectives and then you have to make it work. It was a difficult start, but at the moment we’re in a great place.”
Much was made in the summer of the fact that Arsenal did not sign an out-and-out striker, something it felt like they lacked in previous title races.
Havertz returns to Bournemouth a different player to the one he was 13 months ago
Arteta has always spoken of his happiness for the goals to be shared, but history has shown how most title-winning sides need a proven goalscorer. Indeed, only three times in the last 15 seasons has a team won the Premier League without having a player reaching the 20-goal mark.
Perhaps, though, Havertz is the man to do that for Arsenal, and in reality they did not need to go into the market for a striker this summer. Time will tell, but Havertz returns to Bournemouth on Saturday a different player to the one he was 13 months ago.
“He wants more and he’s not satisfied with what he’s doing because there is still, I think, another level from him,” said Arteta.
“Obviously, he’s surrounded by incredible players but something has changed in him and that confidence, you really sense it and now he’s putting it into games and he’s winning football matches which is great.”
