THIERRY HENRY has compared Kai Havertz to one of his former Arsenal team-mate.
The German was in action as Chelsea beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 to edge through to the Champions League quarter-finals 2-1 on aggregate.
Havertz, 23, had a smart finish disallowed for offside before netting the winner from the penalty spot, having been allowed to re-take the spot kick following his initial miss.
Gunners legend Henry, 45, watched while on punditry duty for CBS Sports.
Discussing the Chelsea forward’s impact, the Frenchman made a very flattering comparison.
On Havertz, he said: “I thought he was good. On the first goal he held the ball ever so well.
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“He reminds me sometimes a little, very little, of Robin, back to goal.
“Robin van Persie was very good with his left foot – was always immaculate to try and bring people along.
“It’s why I think out of the guys who used to be wingers or a ten, he plays a nine 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.”
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Havertz, like Chelsea as a whole, has struggled for goals this season.
He has scored just once in his last ten Prem games, and seven in 33 in all competitions this term.
Since signing for Chelsea he has netted 30 goals in 125 games, including the winner in the 2021 Champions League final.
Van Persie, 39, was more prolific than Havertz during his time in the Premier League.
The Dutchman scored 132 goals in 278 matches for Arsenal, before landing his dream move to Manchester United in 2012.
He helped the Red Devils to their last Prem title the following season, plundering 58 goals across 105 appearances for the 20-time champions.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
