Havertz: Arsenal star ‘ready to fight’ Liverpool for the Premier League title

We're set up in the Arsenal Community Hub near a boules mat and two indoor football pitches, waiting for Kai Havertz to join us for a chat and some bowls on Monday afternoon.

As we do that, a lot of noise comes from one of the fields. We walk around and see Havertz and Oleksandr Zinchenko playing soccer competitively with a neurodiversity community.

The competition between the two is fierce and I'm thinking, 'is this normal between two teammates at a community event?'

“No one on our team wants to lose.” Havertz explains it to me. “We play so many little games when we go away, wherever we go it's competitive. I have to beat him or he'll go to training tomorrow and take the **** out of me!”

Although the Germany international has only been at the club for a short time, you can see how comfortable he is with his teammates, the community and the Arsenal staff.

“I've been here for just over a year now, but it feels like ages. I know everyone so well and it just feels like home.”

Well, the competition didn't end on the football field as things got very tasty when the pair got involved in bowling with a senior group, who enjoyed sharing their wisdom with the players.

I had tried a few bowls before, but failed miserably, and explained to Havertz that it was harder than it looked.

After his first four tries, he turned to me and said, “You were right about that!” A rare moment in my own career.

Zinchenko entertains everyone on the mat, hurts when a ball rolls away and celebrates very loudly.

“Around October and November it was a difficult period, we play so many matches abroad, some players traveled to South America and it was tough for all of us.

“But we are very happy to be together again. It is four months before the next break of the national team and everyone is ready for this time, everyone is very happy to be back.”

The change of fortune also coincided with the return of Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, a close friend of Havertz's to the Gunners' ranks, and as soon as I mention his name there is a wide smile on the German's face as he explains what it's like to play next to him.

“For me, it's kind of fun! He's just magical,” Havertz continued.

“He makes everything so calm and easy on the pitch, has the confidence to turn games around on his own, even in bad moments he takes the ball and does something with it. He never shies away. He is a very important player for us .” “

The Norwegian is back and Arsenal are flying again, scoring 13 goals in their last three games in all competitions, while they have scored just 12 in the previous nine games, with Odegaard missing seven. But does this mean Arsenal are back in the title race?

“It's still the first part of the season and a lot can still happen. For me personally, I think how much tougher the Premier League is becoming year after year,” Havertz continued.

“Liverpool are suddenly performing at the highest level week in, week out and I certainly have to give them credit. But there are still a lot of games to play for points so we will certainly be ready to battle.” .”

I move the conversation to Arsenal's upcoming battle against Manchester United, but we are interrupted by Zinchenko clearing a stand with a bowls ball right next to where we were standing.

No time for excuses, just ready for his next attempt, such is his competitive nature.

This time he succeeds, and proceeds to shout, run and punch the air in celebration, much to the amusement of the watching crowd and his Arsenal teammate, who tells me how much he's loving life at Arsenal at the moment:

“I'm loving every second of it. For me, this is the best thing I could have done. I'm so happy with the support from everyone who has helped me during my time. I'm just starting out and I hope to continue in good shape, to play well and win titles.”

Havertz has now had as many Premier League goals at Arsenal (26) as he did at Chelsea in 42 fewer games and is flourishing under Mikel Arteta.

But as the clock ticks down on a wonderful community day that also saw Jurrien Timber and Raheem Sterling show up at the Arsenal Community Hub, Havertz tells me about the joy he gets from this special community:

“We get so much from our community, we get a lot of love. Even when we come now, they are so happy to see us. Around Christmas it's time to give back, to see so many happy faces, to spend some money Spending time with them and making them laugh, it's a lot of fun.”

It was certainly great fun for all the participants who benefited so much from the Arsenal Community Days to see their heroes, with a 60 year old Brazilian man who called himself (at least to me) “Pele” describing it as one of the best days of his life. .

Arsenal also took players to two local hospitals, and they continue to strive to do more for their community, something the club is very proud of.

On the pitch, Havertz remains positive that success is close for the Gunners:

“There are still a lot of things in the team that we can develop and get better at. I'm sure the next few years will be great for us and I think everyone will be ready for it.”