'To him...': Mikel Arteta sends message to Kai Havertz after he misses crucial penalty v Manchester United

Yesterday at 03:15 PM

Kai Havertz was the villain and then the hero for Manchester United as they managed to see off Arsenal in the FA Cup at The Emirates.

Havertz was slammed for effectively diving to win a penalty off of Harry Maguire and although Martin Odegaard missed the spot-kick, it was a huge talking point in the game.

In the end, as United fans berated Havertz inside the ground, it was indeed the German who handed United the game as he fluffed his lines from 12 yards in the shootout.

For Havertz and Arsenal, it’s been a crushing week and ahead of a big North London derby this coming week, Mikel Arteta has a job on his hands to raise spirits.

However, for Arteta, there’s a very simple message for Havertz and the rest of his players.

Mikel Arteta’s message to Kai Havertz after Man United penalty miss

Speaking in his press conference after the game, Arteta got onto the subject of Havertz and how he might pick him up after a difficult week and game.

However, being bullish as ever, the Arsenal boss insisted that his message his clear.

“To him and to all of them, that I love them, that we all love them individually and as a team they are a joy. What this team produces every three days is incredible regardless of what happens,” Arteta said.

“And I’m not going to lose sight of that because of our results or for two because we didn’t deserve those results. What can we do better. Let’s try to do it. It’s very difficult to achieve. It’s an emotional part. It’s something related to confidence as well. But it's very difficult to ask something else from our players.”

What Mikel Arteta said about Gabriel Jesus’ injury

While picking Havertz and co up will be a challenge for Mikel Arteta, the more miserable news for him is the fact that Gabriel Jesus went off injured again.

The Brazilian forward was stretchered off and it did not look good, something the Arsenal boss confirmed after the game.

“Big worry. That’s my feeling. He had to come off on a stretcher with a lot of pain. Touching his knee, it's not looking good,” Arteta said.

Arsenal are already being linked with a new forward this winter but with Jesus now out, those plans could have to be doubled down on.