Arsenal are preparing for a pivotal Champions League showdown with Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night.
The Gunners have already turned their attention back to European competition after strengthening their lead at the top of the Premier League table. Mikel Arteta’s side will host Leverkusen for the second leg of their round-of-16 tie. Kai Havertz is hoping to keep his place in the team and line up against his former club after scoring Arsenal’s dramatic equaliser from the penalty spot in the first leg.
The German international has proven his value to Arsenal whenever he has been available this season. He is also still held in high regard by Leverkusen, the club that sold him to Chelsea in 2020.
Although Havertz didn’t get on the scoresheet against Everton over the weekend, teenage star Max Dowman stepped up to seal an important win for Arsenal.
At just 16 years old, Dowman became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history, prompting questions to Arteta about how he plans to manage the promising midfielder going forward.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes has indicated that the club would gladly welcome Havertz back in the future, according to the Mirror.
Havertz first rose to prominence at Leverkusen as a teenager, making 150 appearances before securing a move to Chelsea for around £72 million. After lifting the Champions League at Stamford Bridge, he later joined Arsenal in a £65 million transfer.
“I’m generally sceptical about bringing former players back. But with Kai [Havertz] and Florian Wirtz, I would make an exception,” Rolfes stated on Sport1 programme Doppelpass.
Discussing the 26-year-old forward, Rolfes added: “He spent 10 years in our youth system. We maintain close contact with Kai and if the situation arises, we would need to have a conversation.
“At the moment, however, he is in a different phase of his career and feels very comfortable at Arsenal. He left the club to reach the top of world football.”
Dowman made history with his goal against Everton, firmly putting his name in the record books.
The Arsenal teenager’s impressive display has attracted widespread attention, and he could see increased minutes as the Gunners compete on four fronts.
The 16-year-old previously made his Champions League debut as a substitute against Slavia Prague in November, but following his latest standout showing, Arteta has called for patience in managing his development.
When quizzed if Dowman could start the team’s next league match, the Arsenal manager replied: “Let’s come down to earth today and enjoy the moment, because it was intense and it was worth it and we will see tomorrow.”
