Kai Havertz: Arsenal 'desperate' to win trophies with 'ridiculous' captain Martin Odegaard

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz found some of his best form under Mikel Arteta last season, and he has continued his goalscoring streak in the opening games of the new Premier League season. Speaking to Rio Ferdinand ahead of their game against Brighton, shown live on TNT Sports this Saturday, the German praised his captain Martin Odegaard for his "ridiculous" talent.

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz is "desperate" to win trophies for the club and believes "ridiculous" captain Martin Odegaard is crucial to the side.

The Danish international midfielder has blossomed in North London after several years in Spain, and Havertz pointed to his ability on the ball, and the relationship the pair have struck up.

“He’s crazy,” Havertz told TNT Sports. “I think the connection with him was there from the first second. I always loved him as a player. I used to watch him a lot, the season before I came to Arsenal. 

Premier League

Arsenal captain Odegaard withdraws from Norway squad after another injury setback

05/10/2025 at 17:32

“He’s ridiculous. What he does, not even in the game, in training, is crazy. You follow him and he does those movements, and I think ‘Where do I go now?’

“He plays so simply, so easily, but so dangerous as well.”

Despite Odegaard’s best efforts, for two seasons Arsenal have fallen short of Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title. But with two wins out of two so far this campaign, Mikel Arteta’s side have started promisingly in their latest attempt to overthrow Pep Guardiola's team.

Their next match is against Brighton on Saturday, with TNT Sports showing the action all the action from the 12.30pm kick-off.

Havertz was one of the key figures in the second half of the 2023/24 season as he found his touch in front of goal, scoring 14 times in all competitions.

He told Rio Ferdinand, “I want to score 20 goals, 20 Premier League goals. Let’s see at the end of the season.”

While the German is a versatile forward, he is increasingly seen as a goalscorer, and he explained how he approaches the game.

“I think your job is to score,” he said. “Obviously it’s hard, I’m not like a striker who sits in the box and waits for chances. So it’s tough to always be there when there is a chance.”

His success at Arsenal is a contrast from his spell at Chelsea, where he arrived to great fanfare from Bayer Leverkusen, but never consistently convinced at Stamford Bridge.

The first few months at the Emirates were similarly difficult, but he suggested that a connection with the fans has helped him to come out on top.

He said: “[The supporters] are very important for me personally. I think everyone knows the first three, four months at Arsenal did not go quite the way I expected them to go. 

“People were doubting already and asking questions, but I’m happy I turned it around. I think people enjoy seeing me play, and it’s fun to play in front of them.

“I think we all started playing football out of love, not because it’s a job. When I found the joy again, things started to flow again.”

Highlights: Joao Pedro scores late and Welbeck claims 100th career goal as Brighton beat Man Utd

Video credit: TNT Sports

As well as his rapport with the fans, he acknowledged that Arteta’s influence has borne fruit.

Havertz said: “As a striker it’s always important to contribute with goals and assists, but it was never the biggest thing in my game. 

“Now, in the last six months it changed a bit where I tried to become more dangerous in the box and it was a big point from the boss as well.”

Havertz added: “Small margins and small details in a game nowadays. They’re so important. Obviously it’s nice to score goals but at the end of the day we need to win games, and when I create space for another player scoring a goal, it counts the same.”

After a couple of seasons of disappointment for the club, and a difficult few years, the newly settled Havertz is ready to help Arteta’s men finally overcome Manchester City.

He said: “I think we showed we have the quality to beat them and we’re going to go for it, for sure. 

“I don’t like to say a big thing, I like to speak after every week and see how we go. 

“I think everyone here is desperate to win something for the club and for us.”

Watch the 2024-25 Premier League season live on TNT Sports and discovery+

Champions League

Reaction to Odegaard’s 'phenomenal' showing against Olympiacos

01/10/2025 at 23:43

Premier League

Arteta gives Odegaard update after Arsenal captain appears to suffer injury against Forest

13/09/2025 at 17:18