Alan Shearer has warned Kai Havertz that he will not become a regular starter for Arsenal despite his goal in Saturday’s 4-0 win at AFC Bournemouth.
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Havertz scored a penalty against the Cherries on the south coast to mark his first goal for the club since he arrived this summer in a £65 deal from Chelsea.
It was a transfer that raised eyebrows given that Havertz was largely underwhelming in his three-year spell at Stamford Bridge.
The Germany international has faced criticism already this season as Mikel Arteta continues to mould him from a forward into more of a midfield player.
Despite his confidence-boosting goal at the Vitality Stadium, Shearer feels that Havertz still needs to improve and does not see him becoming a regular starter.
‘There is definitely a player in there, but when you look at the numbers, his ability, that doesn’t match those numbers,’ Shearer told Match of the Day.
‘[His numbers] need to improve. You know that you have to pay £60 million, £70 million, £80 million for a squad player nowadays.
‘He is going to play his part, but whether he will be a regular or not, I don’t think so.’
Arteta, meanwhile, feels Havertz’s first goal for Arsenal will ‘change everything’ for the 24-year-old after his slow start at the Emirates.
‘I’m so happy with our supporters the way they made [Havertz] feel [today],’ Arteta said after the win over Bournemouth. ‘If there’s a player who deserves that it’s him. Probably it will change everything. If he had any question marks about how we feel about him they are out.’
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