KAI HAVERTZ has made silencing critics somewhat of a specialist subject.
The forward was compared to his beloved donkeys at Chelsea, doubted when he was bought for £65million by Arsenal and has defied calls to be dropped for Germany.
Arsenal’s misunderstood magician is spearheading a German team which started their home Euros on fire and are reconnecting with a country which had little hope before the tournament.
Toni Kroos may be the dictator of Die Mannschaft and Jamal Musiala its creator, but Havertz‘s work is making their brilliance possible.
The 25-year-old, an animal lover with a special affinity for donkeys, has two goals from four games at Euro 2024 – both under pressure from the penalty spot.
But it is his tireless running at and battling with defenders which has created space for team-mates such as Musiala and Florian Wirtz to thrive.
Despite his impressive start there have, as always seems to be the case wherever Havertz goes, been doubts.
Julian Nagelsmann resisted loud calls to start super-sub Niclas Fullkrug ahead of the Gunners forward in the last-16 tie against Denmark.
Fullkrug, the Borussia Dortmund striker, also has two goals in two games – the second being a crucial extra-time equaliser against Switzerland which saw them top their group.
A street close to Germany’s hotel in Dortmund was even renamed Niclas-Füllkrug-Allee ahead of the game as pressure built to make a change from the start.
EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERS
But that ignores Havertz’s role in Fullkrug’s impact. Had the former Bayer Leverkusen man not spent the previous 60 or 70 minutes tormenting and tiring the defenders, his replacement would find it far more difficult to have such an impact.
But the fact Havertz has faced up to the scrutiny and questioning should come as no surprise.
It was something Arsenal considered when they signed a struggling Havertz from London rivals Chelsea a year ago.
He may have scored a winning goal in the Champions League final for the Blues, but their spiral under new ownership had seen confidence collapse at Stamford Bridge.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu privately knew they were forking out huge money for damaged goods.
There was an understanding that, while there would be eyebrows raised and huge pressure on their new man, things could take time.
Both the coaching staff and those upstairs were prepared to wait it out.
It took seven games for Havertz to net his first Premier League goal, against Bournemouth, and another six before the second followed away at Brentford.
Arteta persevered throughout, having found a witty and engaging character who was determined to improve and make a contribution.
There were some tweaks to positioning, an injury to Gabriel Jesus seeing Havertz move further forward into the role he is now flourishing in with Germany.
The patience and foresight – as well as the player’s hard work – paid off.
Havertz ended the season with 14 goals and seven assists in all competitions, scoring a number of late goals to keep their title challenge rolling on.
While there has been huge clamour since January for the Gunners to spend big on a striker, those within London Colney are relaxed about the situation as they effectively have Germany’s No9 on their books.
There will undoubtedly be more questions as to whether that is the right call going into the new domestic season.
Even if Havertz were to fire Germany to Euros glory in Berlin on July 14 he would still face the same doubts over whether he is the right fit.
But one thing you can rely on is that, eventually, he will prove them wrong.
