Kai Havertz conversation with Mikel Arteta inspired Arsenal striker’s superb form

Kai Havertz has opened up about the transformative advice he received from Mikel Arteta that sparked his impressive run of form for Arsenal.

The German forward, who initially struggled to find his feet at the Emirates Stadium following his £65million switch from Chelsea, credits Arteta's guidance for his newfound confidence in front of goal. Havertz, 24, managed just a single goal in his first dozen Premier League outings for the Gunners.

However, his finishing and all round game has improved, resulting in him notching eight goals and five assists in his last 12 league matches, including a memorable double in the Gunners' 5-0 victory over his former club.

Despite facing early criticism, Arteta stood firmly behind Havertz, supporting him publicly and sharing crucial advice behind the scenes.

Speaking to Saturday Social on Sky Sports, Havertz said: "If I should pick one it's that I should be confident in the opponent's box. He [Arteta] told me that lots of times and I think it boosted my confidence."

The young attacker also praised Arteta for having a profound impact on his approach to the game. He added: "He has developed my game a lot. He changed my vision of football completely and taught me things I never knew before and other small details", reports the Mirror.

"Every small little detail on the pitch is important and every player has to fill his role 100% otherwise you're not going to be successful."

Havertz, once a subject of scepticism due to his underwhelming start at Stamford Bridge, has found an advocate in Arteta. Despite the raised eyebrows following his initial move to England from Bayer Leverkusen, Arteta has consistently shown faith in Havertz's ability to make an impact at Arsenal.

Reflecting on Arsenal's 2-2 draw against Fulham back in August, Arteta remarked: "Yes, I think [he will win the fans over]. I think he's done already really good things today."

Arteta acknowledged the challenges Havertz faced during the match, saying: "It was tough for him in certain moments, he got in great areas again and the ball didn't arrive. He's had a lot of situations, he should have scored already a lot of goals this season, and that's the thing that is missing there."

With the Premier League season drawing to a close next week, Havertz still has the opportunity to end his campaign on a high note, potentially securing a winners' medal as Arsenal continue to challenge Manchester City for the title.