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James GoldmanPublished May 17, 2024, 7:37am|Updated May 17, 2024, 7:38am
William Gallas claims Kai Havertz’s first season at Arsenal has been no more than satisfactory and believes he hasn’t been missed at Stamford Bridge.
A chaotic season at the west London club could yet end on an uplifting note with a run of four straight wins has left the Blues in with a chance of finishing fifth.
Given the upheaval and mammoth injury list Mauricio Pochettino has been forced to contend with, European qualification would represent a creditable achievement.
Though Pochettino oversaw a huge outlay last summer, he saw a number of experienced players depart, including Havertz.
The Germany international has developed into something of a cult hero at the Emirates where his goals during the run-in have contributed heavily towards Arsenal’s title challenge.
Gallas, however, insists the 24-year-old should still be capable of producing even more given his talent.
He told Genting Casino: ‘Kai Havertz, for me, has had a good season at Arsenal but he still has not scored enough goals to justify his price tag yet.
‘In the north London Derby last month he had a great game, but when you look at the statistics, a player like him should be better and do more.
’I still don’t think that Chelsea made a mistake to let him go.’
Gallas, meanwhile, maintains that the departure of Mateo Kovacic has been a much bigger loss and the Croatia international’s presence would have been of huge benefit to Chelsea’s two major midfield recruits Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.
Gallas added: ‘For Mateo Kovacic, bringing in Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez was always going to push him out the door.
‘But those sort of young midfielders need experience alongside them and Kovacic would have provided this, so maybe that was a mistake to let him go as well.
’Maybe he should have stayed for another season, around the young players to help them improve. It was the right move for him, but not for Chelsea.’
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