Kai Havertz has expressed his determination to lead Arsenal to Champions League glory, drawing on memories of his winning goal for Chelsea in the 2021 final. The German striker, now a key figure for Arsenal, believes the team's Carabao Cup final defeat earlier this season served as a crucial turning point.
Havertz Reflects on 2021 Triumph
Recalling Chelsea's unexpected victory over Manchester City in Porto, Havertz said: "It is something I will never forget. As a kid I could have never dreamed I would score a goal in the final and win that game. I will always be proud of it. I just try to take that feeling and hopefully it will happen again."
Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday, with many considering them underdogs. Havertz acknowledged the parallels to 2021: "We were the underdogs on that day, for sure. We hadn't had the best season. But now it is completely different."
Arsenal's Premier League Success
Arsenal enter the final after securing their first Premier League title since 2004. Havertz, preferred to summer signing Viktor Gyökeres in recent matches, is expected to start. He praised manager Mikel Arteta: "He was the one who brought me to the club and he taught me so much stuff on the pitch – and off the pitch as well. I am very thankful for that time, how he helped me a lot when I had difficult moments."
Havertz missed nearly five months after a knee injury on the opening day, requiring two surgeries. "I was in a bad place when I was injured," he admitted. "You are just inside a building. You cannot go out, you cannot walk, you do nothing. But all the players and staff helped me believe in myself."
Carabao Cup Defeat as Catalyst
Havertz identified the Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City as the season's turning point. "It was a moment where we felt we could do so much better and there was so much more in this team and everyone needed to lift their spirits," he said. "There was the international break after and we just said to ourselves that we need to come back stronger. From that moment things changed a bit and we were more successful."
His goals against Bayer Leverkusen and Sporting in the Champions League, as well as a crucial Premier League strike against Burnley, proved vital. Havertz is confident ahead of facing PSG: "We have been fighting on the highest level for a couple of years now and we have finally won the Premier League. That gives us a big boost. It doesn't matter if you are an underdog or whatever. We are going to go on the pitch and are going to beat them."
