'Havertz is the new Robin van Persie'

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 18 Jun 2023 11:12 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal would be getting the next Robin van Persie if they signed Kai Havertz claims club legend Thierry Henry.

Arsenal are reportedly at the front of the queue to sign Havertz from London rivals Chelsea, although they saw their opening bid of £55 million turned down.

Real Madrid have pulled out of the race for the German, but Bayern Munich remain interested. Arsenal are understood to be his most likely destination, though.

Speaking after Chelsea came from behind to beat Dortmund 2-0 in the Champions League March, Henry heaped praise on Havertz, saying he reminded him of his former Arsenal teammate, Van Persie.

Henry was impressed with Havertz throughout the game.

Henry: 'Havertz reminds me of RVP'

"I thought he was good on the first goal," the Arsenal legend told CBS Sports. "You could see he held the ball ever so well.

"It reminds [me] sometimes a little, very little, of a Robin - the way he can hold the ball. Robin van Persie was very good with his left foot. The touch was always immaculate to drive, to bring people along.

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"This is why I think out of the guys that used to be wingers or a No.10, he plays as a No.9 because back to goal, he can hold the ball well.

"Now he needs to make sure he can transform that into more goals, because you can play off him."

Havertz came in for fierce criticism last season, a walking testament to Chelsea's troubles under Graham Potter then Frank Lampard, a striker who scored just seven times in the Premier League.

The Blues have spent more than €600 million on new players since Todd Boehly became owner last May, but No.9 remains a problem position.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is up for sale, while Romelu Lukaku back on loan at Inter Milan and wants to stay there.