Mikel Arteta's patience is paying off after Kai Havertz and David Raya played pivotal roles for Arsenal in season-opening win over Wolves
- Arsenal beat Wolves 2-0 in their first game of the new Premier League season
- Kai Havertz scored Arsenal's opening goal, while David Raya made three saves
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Patience and confidence. Of Mikel Arteta’s many attributes as a manager, these are the two he has been able to most effectively utilise with new arrivals.
Last summer Arsenal splashed the cash on Declan Rice (£110million), Jurrien Timber (£38.5m), Kai Havertz (£65m) and David Raya (loan with an option to buy).
Rice hit the ground running and became one of the Gunners’ players of the season, while Timber was sidelined with a long-term injury. The other two struggled at times.
Havertz was thrown in at left midfield and looked muddled, particularly in the win over Manchester United when he made an error in the build-up that allowed Marcus Rashford to score.
It took time for the German to find his form but when he did, particularly in the second half of the season as a No 9, it was to great effect. He finished the campaign with 13 league goals.
Kai Havertz scored Arsenal's first goal of the 2024-25 campaign, after netting 14 last season
Saka (left) doubled the scoring and provided an assist to down Wolves at the Emirates on Saturday
And after Arteta’s assertion that goalkeepers are interchangeable having dropped Aaron Ramsdale, Raya too was feeling the pressure. The 4-3 win over Luton in December springs to mind as a match in which he made errors for two goals.
It makes their turnaround since then all the more impressive. Bukayo Saka scored a goal and provided an assist to down Wolves on Saturday, but it was Raya’s cat-like save in the first half – to deny Jorgen Strand Larsen – and Havertz’s opening headed goal which laid the platform for three points.
Arteta deserves credit. It would have been easy to twist. The impatience from fans around Havertz was growing toxic, while Raya was only a loanee from Brentford last season.
But Arteta kept faith and has been rewarded.
Especially so with Raya – having suggested he may rotate his keepers, he never did in the league.
The success of these signings are likely why the Arsenal hierarchy listened to Arteta and bought another defender this summer – splashing out £42m on Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori.
And it is also why Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino, about whom Arteta is convinced, should be a safe bet.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta's patience is paying off after his Arsenal team shone on opening day
Sporting director Edu flew to Spain recently to try to finalise the deal.
The transfer window closes in just two weeks. You can expect Arteta to be backed to bring in the targets he desires so Arsenal can achieve their ultimate goal.
