Coach Arteta: 'Havertz is like me when flirting with my girlfriend'
"I told Havertz that things always start out difficult," Arteta told Sky Sports after the comeback win at Emirates Stadium. "It was also very difficult when I first met my wife. I had to flirt and text. If she agreed on the first date, it probably wasn't okay. I think persistence helped me 'fall' her. . In the end, she agreed, wanted to be together and that was great."
Arteta's wife is Lorena Bernal, born in 1981, of Argentine and Spanish descent. She was crowned Miss Spain in 1999 at the age of 17. Because she was not old enough to participate in Miss Universe that year, she represented the country at Miss World and entered the top 10. The two married in 2010 and have three sons.
Havertz is one of four new recruits to Arsenal this summer, recruited for a total of $83 million from Chelsea. At Emirates Stadium yesterday, the German player continued to combine with Declan Rice and captain Martin Odegaard to form Arsenal's midfield trio. He continued to have an ungainly day, extending his scoreless streak to five matches. In the 13th minute, he missed the ball from less than 10 meters after a foul by Diogo Dalot.
More than ten minutes later, the 24-year-old midfielder failed to pass in the middle of the field, creating conditions for Christian Eriksen to steal the ball and then poke Marcus Rashford to score, opening the score for Man Utd.
Havertz's rare bright spot was a run, received the ball and then burst into Man Utd's penalty area 59 minutes. He fell after being impacted by Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Referee Anthony Taylor awarded Arsenal a penalty, but then withdrew the decision when going to the touchline to review the video. In the 77th minute, Havertz had to make way for Fabio Vieira.
In this match, Arsenal played an overwhelming attack, but let Man Utd take the lead thanks to Rashford's goal in the 27th minute. However, they equalized just a minute later, from Odegaard's shot outside the penalty area. In the 89th minute, the home team conceded a second goal, but VAR determined that Alejandro Garnacho was offside and deprived Man Utd of the goal. Then, in the 6th and 11th minutes of injury time, Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus scored goals to seal a 3-1 victory for Emirates Stadium.
"It's amazing," Arteta commented. "We work so hard and plan everything to live in moments like this. To see the fans bond with the team and celebrate in such a big and historic match is something wonderful, very happy."
The Spanish coach then praised Rice for his superb performance, dominating the midfield, intercepting well, connecting the lines in many moments and will score more goals. He also confirmed that midfielder Thomas Partey suffered a groin injury during training, requiring further examination, but will definitely have to sit out for a few weeks.
Arsenal rose to fifth with 10 points, equal to West Ham, Liverpool, Tottenham, two points behind Man City, and Man Utd dropped to 11th with six points. After a break to make room for the national team, the "Gunners" played Everton on September 17, while Man Utd returned home to host Brighton on September 16 in round five of the Premier League.
