LATEST NEWS: Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan commends Kai Havertz for his intelligence ahead of the upcoming clash with Arsenal.
Ilkay Gundogan has spoken highly of Kai Havertz in anticipation of Manchester City’s upcoming match against Arsenal, emphasizing the German forward’s composure and ‘intelligence’ both on and off the field.
The Premier League champions will host last season’s runners-up in what is expected to be a thrilling encounter at the Etihad, with Havertz likely to play a crucial role for the visitors this weekend.
Havertz has featured as a forward in all four of Arsenal’s Premier League matches this season, contributing two goals and an assist for the north London side, who currently sit second in the table, just behind Pep Guardiola’s City.
Although Havertz dropped back into midfield during Arsenal’s goalless draw against Atalanta in the Europa League, with Gabriel Jesus starting as striker, he is expected to return to his forward position for the City match.
One of the standout moments of Havertz’s career was when he scored the winning goal for Chelsea in the 2020/21 Champions League final, securing a 1-0 victory over Manchester City and claiming Europe’s most prestigious club trophy.
However, the 25-year-old has yet to score against City in the Premier League, a statistic he will no doubt be eager to change when they meet in Manchester this Sunday.
In a recent interview, Gundogan, now a City player, was asked about Havertz ahead of the high-stakes clash. Speaking to Sky Deutschland, he praised his fellow German’s personality and game intelligence. “Kai is a very grounded and calm individual, but he is also highly analytical. His intelligence allows him to see things from a broader perspective. I believe that’s something Mikel Arteta values about him, which is why he has such a key role at Arsenal.”
Gundogan, who previously worked with Arteta when the Spaniard was an assistant to Guardiola at City, has always believed Arteta was destined to become a top-tier manager.
When asked if Arteta is someone he looks up to as a mentor, Gundogan responded: “Mikel is an incredibly intelligent person who knows exactly what he wants and how to achieve it. From the moment I met him, it was clear that this would be his path. I’m not surprised he’s doing so well with Arsenal and that they’re playing football at such a high level.
“Pep Guardiola’s influence on Arteta is undeniable because Mikel worked with him for several years. That’s why Arsenal’s playing style is quite similar to City’s. It’s part of what makes their matches so compelling.
“He’s doing an outstanding job, and with his recent contract extension, he’ll be with Arsenal for a few more years. I’m confident they’ll be in contention for major trophies in the future. If I could follow a similar trajectory to Mikel’s, I’d consider myself very fortunate.”
Erling Haaland has also had an explosive start to the new season, scoring nine goals in City’s first four league matches, and Gundogan attributes much of the striker’s success to Guardiola’s coaching.
“Haaland has a tremendous presence. When you score as many goals as he does, that aura grows even larger. He has almost every quality you’d want in a top striker—he can finish with both his feet and his head, he’s tall, physically strong, and fast. In the past two years under Pep, he’s become even more intelligent in his decision-making and his overall play. He’s clearly developed in that area.”
Gundogan went on to say, “There’s not much more you could ask for in a striker, and his goal tally speaks for itself. Scoring nine goals in four matches is an incredible achievement.”
After spending a year with Barcelona in La Liga, Gundogan made a return to the Etihad this summer, an occasion that led to a warm message from Oasis star Noel Gallagher.
“Noel Gallagher sent me a text, expressing his happiness about my return. He had also sent me a very kind message when I decided to leave a year ago, so it was nice to hear from him again when I came back. I hope I can secure tickets for next year’s events, as they’re in high demand right now. But for Manchester, it’s something truly special.”