‘Give him love’ – Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hits back at Kai Havertz criticism and defends £65m man

The Gunners signed the German international for £65m from Chelsea during the summer transfer window.

Since arriving at the club, the player is yet to bag a goal or even register an assist as he attempts to find his feet on the left side of a midfield three.

While his current stats may not justify the price tag, Haverts was defended by his manager ahead of Arsenal’s Super Sunday clash with Manchester United.

When asked about the 24-year-old, Arteta said: "I’ll tell you what I feel about him, that I love him and I see his qualities every day in training.

“His work rate is excellent, a lot of the things he does at the front of the team is so good.

“The visual one - the one with the stats is what is missing at the moment, to put the ball in the net and to arrive in those zones and have a different impact on the game, but for the rest it’s that.

“It’s difficult to ask, especially our people in our stadium and our supporters, more, but my feeling is give him love and we'll get the best out of him."

Arteta believes Havertz can follow in the path of Bukayo Saka, Aaron Ramsdale and Ben White – all of whom have flourished under the Spaniard at the club.

The manager added: "We have some very, very beautiful examples in the last few years with players that we have given support and love, and they have felt that and just exploded. He has got a lot to give us.

"Ben White could not play as a full-back, Aaron Ramsdale isn't good enough and now you sign another keeper and it's a catastrophe! But Aaron Ramsdale wasn't good enough for Arsenal. Bukayo Saka was a left-back. We have so many examples."