Latest news with #KaiHavertz
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Arsenal ratings: Captain Saka scores winner but Havertz is sluggish and new signing Zubimendi barely gets a touch
ARSENAL fought their way to a 1-0 win over Italian giants AC Milan thanks to a scuffed Bukayo Saka finish from a Jakub Kiwior cross. The Gunners wore their new away threads as they took on AC Milan in Singapore. 7 New signing Christian Norgaard was handed a start, as was Kai Havertz as he looks to move past the injury issues that plagued his end to last season. A quiet opening half brought no goals as Arsenal put the squeeze on their Italian opposition, who prioritised a counter-attacking strategy. Saka broke the deadlock with the game's only goal early in the second half after substitute Kiwior found him at the back post. A ceremonial penalty shootout saw heroics from both keepers, with Milan eventually winning through sudden death. Here's how SunSport's Mitchell Hall rated the Gunner's maiden outing of the season... David Raya - 6 The Spanish stopper had virtually nothing to do in the first half as AC Milan struggled to break into their opponent's half. He was typically calm in possession during the few instances that he had the ball, but it could not have been much easier for him on the day. He was swapped with new arrival Kepa Arrizabalaga at half-time. Ben White - 6 White slotted into Arteta's back four at right-back, and pulled the strings from the edge of Milan's defensive third, releasing Saka into dangerous channels on multiple occasions. Some of Milan's faster counters caught him too high up the pitch, and he struggled to control Rafael Leao without support from his central defenders. Mikel Arteta says his Arsenal squad are eager to win the Premier League title after coming so close last season However, on balance it was a quietly confident showing from the ex-England international. William Saliba -7 The senior voice in the back line in the absence of Gabriel Magalhaes, Saliba had the unenviable task of marshalling the defensive line while trying to stop Milan's electric forward Leao. For the most part, he did exactly that, turning their duels into a physical battle when possible, and holding his own for pace when it was not. Riccardo Calafiori - 6 Calafiori experienced hot and cold spells in the match from the left centre-back position. The hybrid defender, who can play across the back four, displayed his confidence when launching and joining attacks, but occasionally found himself caught out in transition and forced into tactical fouling. He looked more comfortable when defending in a settled structure, and showed some composure to stand up his man in the box on a few occasions. Oleksandr Zinchenko - 6 Zinchenko arrives into Arsenal's pre-season run with a point to prove after falling out of favour last campaign. His passing was neat and he made no significant errors, but also failed to stand out in a way that might earn him a promotion within the standings of the squad. On the balance of this match, Zinchenko looks ready to continue his role from last season as a reliable option to turn to if the situation requires it. Christian Norgaard: 5 The Denmark international was handed a start in his first game for the gunners since making the move from Brentford in early July. The move raised some question marks at the time, but the philosophy was clear on the pitch, with Norgaard holding to give Rice more license to attack. He showed flashes of his ball winning brilliance, but ultimately struggled to keep up with the tricky midfield offerings of Milan before being substituted at half-time. Declan Rice - 6 Rice provided his signature tempo to Arteta's midfield, breaking up Milan's early play and spraying accurate balls around the park in deep areas. His influence on the match seemed to wane as play became increasingly channelled through the wide areas, bypassing the midfielders entirely. A couple of eager tackles higher up the pitch threatened to launch counter attacks through quick passes to Martinelli and Havertz, but his teammates could not capitalise. 7 7 Ethan Nwaneri - 8 Coming off the back of a break out season, and sporting his new number 22 shirt, the teenager is clearly brimming with confidence. His deft spin past Strahinja Pavlovic twenty minutes in was enough to put a smile on any fan's face, and his turn and volley minutes later was the closest anyone had come to opening the scoring at the time. He was hooked at half-time to make way for Martin Odegaard, but it was a very promising outing for the young midfielder. Gabriel Martinelli - 5 Martinelli enters pre-season in purgatory after another somewhat underwhelming campaign. He is yet to recapture the His cheeky nutmeg and ball roll trickery in the 42nd minute was a reminder of his quality. However, like for much of last season, he struggled to pull those flashes together into an effective performance, and ultimately failed to impact the game. Bukayo Saka - 9 Saka took the captain's armband in Singapore as he prepared to put last season's intermittent injuries behind him. Perhaps it was this drive that made him the most eager player on the pitch, dropping deep to receive the ball before turning and trying to take on his man, quickly becoming his sides main attacking outlet. He seemed to have the better of teenage full back Davide Bartesaghi, but found it difficult to produce dangerous balls into the box once he had escaped his marker. His confidence bloomed early in the second period, and he finally managed to make his mark in the 53rd minute as he latched onto the cross of substitute Kiwior and scuffed his strike past the goalkeeper. Kai Havertz - 4 Arteta handed Havertz his first start since February after a hamstring injury derailed his end to the season. For all Arsenal's possession, they struggled to work it into dangerous central areas, forcing Havertz to drift wide or risk having the game pass him by. When he did get on the ball, he did not seem quite up to the pace of play. Perhaps his lack of football over recent months has left him sluggish for these early pre-season clashes. SUBS Kepa Arrizabalaga (for Raya 46) - 7 Kepa found himself in much the same situation as his predecessor on the pitch, with there being very little for the stopper to do in normal time. He saved the second, fourth and fifth penalties of the ceremonial shootout, which hints at some justification for his signing from London rivals Chelsea. Jakub Kiwior for (Calafiori 46) - 8 Kiwior made a near instant impact as his perfect teasing ball to the back post found Saka in space. The assist was better than the finish, but they all count. Kiwior has been a peripheral figure in recent seasons, but he couldn't have hoped to be any more impactful than he was on the day with that contribution. Myles Lewis-Skelly (for Zinchenko 46) -6 Arsenal's other breakout youngster, Lewis-Skelly replaced the Ukrainian on the left of Arsenal's back four. He was allowed to drift into central areas from full-back, hinting at an interesting tactical role for him in the coming season under Arteta. Like his predecessor, he made no significant errors, but failed to change the game. 7 Martin Zubimendi (for Norgaard 46) - 6 Another debutant, this match was not best suited to showing off Zubimendi's talents in midfield. By the time of his arrival Arsenal were decisively on top, and most of the game was being played between the Gunners back line and their wide options. Martin Odegaard (for Nwaneri 46) - 5 Martin Odegaard replaced the young Nwaneri, taking the armband on his arrival to the pitch as well. Odegaard fired a free kick into the wall soon after his introduction and sprayed some crosses into the area, but there was no cutting edge to his play. His missed first penalty in the shootout did not paint the picture of confidence expected from a hopeful Premier League winning captain. Leandro Trossard (for Martinelli 46) - 7 Trossard seemed almost immediately more involved than his predecessor, eagerly getting on the ball and draing defenders into wide areas. His play drew his team forward and led to Kiwior's cross and the subsequent goal. He zipped around with urgency during his time on the pitch and brought a tempo that Martinelli could learn from. Marli Salmon (for Saliba 66) - 6 At just 15-years-old, Salmon was brought on to replace one of the most dominant defenders in world football. It is a shame the game did not give him a chance to showcase his talents, but just being there and looking so comfortable on his debut is a massive endorsement for his mentality. He seemed composed on the few occasions the ball came his way and didn't panic when Milan threatened to break, but that was all he could do. 7 Mikel Merino (for Rice 66) - 7 It seems with the return of Kai Havertz - and potentially the introduction of Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres - that Merino's time as a situational striker has come to an end. The Spaniard slotted into midfield for Rice with a third of the game to play, but it was an uneventful spell. His one moment of threat came from a towering header from a corner, which seemed to be going goalwards before being tipped away. Max Dowman (for Saka 66) - 7 It was a mature first-team debut for highly rated youngster Max Dowman. Describing the 15-year-old, 2009-born Dowman as a youngster barely does his age justice when he is being introduced to a men's game of football. But he showed no fear, winning some free kicks early on and showing for the ball when possible, and his penalty may have been the pick of the bunch. The potential is clear to see. Josh Nichols (for White 66) - 5 Nichols did not see much of the ball after his introduction, but did come across as panicked on the sparse occasions when he was called into making a defensive action. That is surely to be expected of an 18-year-old however, and his positional discipline seemed to improve as he grew into the game. Reiss Nelson (for Havertz 79) -5 The forgotten man at Arsenal over recent years, Reiss Nelson came on with too little time to make a serious impact, and faced similar issues as Havertz when trying to get on the ball. He had one outside-of-the-box effort that may have been headed goalward, but it deflected off the head of a defender and went wide. His missed penalty will also not help build his confidence ahead of an uncertain season for the English winger.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Arsenal vs AC Milan LIVE RESULT: Saka breaks deadlock in pre-season clash against Italian giants
From Jordan Davies in Singapore The Singapore Stadium is an awesome spectacle, but is also as hot as an oven inside with the roof closed – something the players noticed when they trained here earlier in the week. Slightly surprising that Martin Zubimendi has not been given a run-out from the off but he will almost certainly be making his debut in the second half. It will also be interesting to see Kai Havertz – back playing for the first time since tearing his hamstring while out in Dubai back in February. The German has certainly bulked up during his rehab, as has Ethan Nwaneri – the England U21 star has a real chance to lay down an early marker in the eyes of Mikel Arteta.
Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal fans spot incredible Kai Havertz transformation ahead of Viktor Gyokeres battle
Kai Havertz is set to have a fight on his hands if Arsenal are successful in their pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres and the German looks - quite literally - ready for battle Arsenal star Kai Havertz has bulked up for pre-season, as he prepares to fight Viktor Gyokeres for a starting place. Havetz, 26, missed four crucial months of the 2024-25 campaign with a hamstring injury and coupled with Gabriel Jesus' absence, Arsenal were left without a recognised striker during the run-in. The Gunners want to bolster their options by signing Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon, agreeing to pay an initial £55million plus £8.6m in add-ons. It's understood that personal terms have been agreed in principle over a five-year contract, with the Swede - who Mirror Football understands has his heart set on joining Arsenal - pencilled in for a medical in London on Friday. Gyokeres' arrival would put Havertz's place under threat, having played 56 per cent of his matches for Arsenal as a striker. But there'll be something different about the 26-year-old when the new season kicks off. Images from the Gunners' training camp in Cartagena, Spain show that Havertz has undergone a striking transformation, one which Mikel Arteta alluded to towards the end of last season. The former Chelsea star was always known for his slender figure but he appears to have gained muscle mass since his injury. "Look at the physical transformation, he's so ready to show everybody he means business and lead the line," one Arsenal fan posted on social media. "Boy became a man. What a unit," a second added. Another supporter, looking ahead to Arsenal's first game of the Premier League season away to Manchester United, predicted: "This is part of the reason why I think he starts at Old Trafford." Fans aren't the only ones praising Havertz's physique, too. Arteta himself said: "There's been a transformation in his body. The last three years in his career have been so condensed that he hasn't had time to do that and this has been a window and he really wanted to use it. "To be fair, the staff and how they have explained the opportunity that is within with his physique to go to a different level and the things that he can improve and it can even help him mentally as well as being more effective as a player. "He got on board with that, he worked hard, you can see his presence and I think he destroyed all the metrics that we had in the gym for the last 10 years. Power, acceleration, muscle mass, the way that he has increased certain capacities in his body, his agility, he's been incredible." Havertz came on as a substitute in Arsenal's last two games of the season but missed out on making the Germany squad ahead of the Nations League finals on home soil. The ex-Bayer Leverkusen star will be determined to have a successful season in order to represent his country at next year's World Cup in north America. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘That's Henry Cavill' – Arsenal fans stunned by Kai Havertz's body transformation as new pic of ‘jacked' striker emerges
KAI SPY 'That's Henry Cavill' – Arsenal fans stunned by Kai Havertz's body transformation as new pic of 'jacked' striker emerges Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ARSENAL fans have likened Kai Havertz to SUPERMAN after spotting his jacked body transformation. The German star returned for the final two games of the season after spending three months out with a hamstring injury. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Kai Havertz appears to have undergone an incredible body transformation Havertz netted 15 goals in 36 appearances as Arsenal finished second in the Premier League for a third consecutive season. He now looks set for more competition in the attack after the Gunners agreed to sign Sporting Lisbon No9 Viktor Gyokeres for £63.5million. Gyokeres, 27, was on course to move to North London after scoring an incredible 97 goals across the past two seasons - but it's at risk of collapsing over Sporting's bonus demands. And Havertz, 26, appears ready to battle for the starting role up top at the Emirates after hitting the gym this summer. READ MORE ON ARSENAL TAKE YOUR VIK Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres transfer 'at serious risk of complete collapse' Fans were left stunned from a new snap showing Havertz enjoying a spot of lunch with team-mate Ben White at Arsenal's training ground. One joked: "Wham-vertz 👀." A second added: "That's Henry Cavill." British actor Cavill gained worldwide recognition for portraying Superman in the DC Extended Universe. 4 The German shared snaps of himself working hard at the gym last month 4 Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates While another replied: "Havertz looks like a rugby player." A third said: "Boy became a man. What a unit." One more wrote: "Havertz clearly means business this year." SPORTS DESK_EP29_V3 Havertz recently shared pictures from a workout to his Instagram alongside the caption: "Loading". The striker and wife Sophia welcomed their first child in March. He first joined Arsenal from Chelsea in 2023 as an attacking midfielder but has moved into the striker role under Mikel Arteta. Even though he finished as their top scorer in the league last season on nine goals, there is a sense the Gunners need more firepower. Noni Madueke is also heading to the Emirates from Chelsea in a £52m move, with Eberechi Eze another target. Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga have already signed for Arsenal as they bid to win silverware next season. The Premier League runners-up kickstart their bid to win a first league title in 21 years away at Manchester United on August 17.
The Irish Sun
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘That's Henry Cavill' – Arsenal fans stunned by Kai Havertz's body transformation as new pic of ‘jacked' striker emerges
ARSENAL fans have likened Kai Havertz to SUPERMAN after spotting his jacked body transformation. The German star returned for the final two games of the season after spending three months out with a . 4 Kai Havertz appears to have undergone an incredible body transformation Havertz netted 15 goals in 36 appearances as He now looks set for more competition in the attack after the Gunners agreed to sign Gyokeres, 27, was on course to move to North London after scoring an incredible 97 goals across the past two seasons - And Havertz, 26, appears ready to battle for the starting role up top at the Emirates after hitting the gym this summer. READ MORE ON ARSENAL Fans were left stunned from a new snap showing Havertz enjoying a spot of lunch with team-mate Ben White at Arsenal 's training ground. One joked: "Wham-vertz 👀." A second added: "That's Henry Cavill." British actor Cavill gained worldwide recognition for portraying Superman in the DC Extended Universe. Most read in Football 4 The German shared snaps of himself working hard at the gym last month 4 Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates While another replied: "Havertz looks like a rugby player." A third said: "Boy became a man. What a unit." One more wrote: "Havertz clearly means business this year." SPORTS DESK_EP29_V3 Havertz recently Instagram alongside the caption: "Loading". The striker and wife Sophia He first joined Arsenal from Chelsea in 2023 as an attacking midfielder but has moved into the striker role under Mikel Arteta. Even though he finished as their top scorer in the league last season on nine goals, there is a sense the Gunners need more firepower. Noni Madueke is also heading to the Emirates from Chelsea , with Eberechi Eze . Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga have already signed for Arsenal as they bid to win silverware next season. The Premier League runners-up kickstart their bid to win a first league title in 21 years away at Manchester United on August 17. 4
