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Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder turned television pundit Jamie O'Hara has claimed Arsenal star Kai Havertz is not good enough in big games. The Germany international didn't have his best game as the Gunners were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at the hands of Bayern Munich.
Following a 2-2 draw at the Emirates in the first leg last week, Arsenal needed to salvage a result from the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, April 17. However, Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel outwitted Mikel Arteta and Joshua Kimmich scored the only goal of the game.
Following the game, Jamie O'Hara claimed that Kai Havertz is decent while playing as a No. 9 but fails to turn up in big games. The 37-year-old told talkSPORT, as quoted by The Boot Room:
“He ain’t good enough, he ain’t. He can do a job playing as a no.9 but when it comes to playing against the big boys, the crunch moments, he doesn’t do it."
Havertz has had a mixed first season at Arsenal following his £65 million switch from Chelsea last summer. The versatile midfielder endured a rough start to life at the Emirates, scoring just one goal in 12 Premier League games.
However, he has improved a lot over the last couple of months. The 24-year-old has scored 10 goals and produced five assists in 45 appearances across competitions this season. Mikel Arteta has used him in multiple roles across the pitch but he has delivered his best form while deployed as a false nine.
Thierry Henry furious with Arsenal star as the Gunners get knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich
Arsenal icon Thierry Henry has slammed Takehiro Tomiyasu for his role in Bayern Munich's winner in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. The Gunners needed a result at the Allianz Arena to secure a place in the semi-finals but were knocked out courtesy of a Joshua Kimmich goal.
Takehiro Tomiyasu started at left-back and was arguably at fault for the goal. He couldn't stop Leroy Sane from delivering a cross which ended up at Raphael Gurreiro's feet at the far post. Tomiyasu again failed to track the run of Kimmich was was teed up by Gurreiro for the winner.
Henry slammed Tomiyasu as well as Gabriel Martinelli for allowing too much space to Kimmich. The Frenchman said:
“Can I play the devil’s advocate? Can we show that goal again? If I am the winger there defending for Tomiyasu. You are going to see Martinelli defending on Leroy Sane. I invite you to look at what Tomiyasu does, so Martinelli has to defend and you are doing his job right now."
Henry added:
“You go all the way there [the ball is switched to Guerreiro out wide]. Now, please stay with Tomiyasu. What is Leroy Sane going to do there? [He goes off the pitch] You [Tomiyasu] are looking at him. He can’t score! Close the gap. He can’t score! It’s dependent on you. What is he going to do? He isn’t even in the frame.
"This is where he was, I know I am going far, he was going there [Henry proceeds to walk out of the picture to demonstrate how far Sane went off the pitch]. How is he going to score?! Close the gap!”
Arsenal could now go trophyless for another season as they have been knocked out of the Champions League and the domestic cup competiitons. They still have a chance to win the Premier League but find themselves on the backfoot following their defeat against Aston Villa last Sunday. They are two points behind leaders Manchester City with six games to go.
