Declan Rice was pictured fuming at Kai Havertz during Arsenal match against Fulham due to his uncertifying performance.
Arsenal fans have noticed Declan Rice’s displeased reaction to team-mate Havertz during his disasterclass against Fulham on Saturday, 26th of August.
What happened between Declan Rice And Kai Havertz?
Arsenal played their second London Derby against Fulham on matchday 3 of the English Premier League campaign at Emirates Stadium which resulted in a 2-2 draw.
But it was Declan Rice’s reaction towards Havertz that caught fans’ attention.
Kai Havertz made his third straight Premier League start of the current season for the Gunners as they were forced to drop points at home to the Cottagers.
The 65 million pounds summer signing for Arsenal has not been performing up to expectations in the famous red and white jersey and Saturday’s performance marked his unstable display.
Havertz could have marked his first goal for the Emirates outfit in the first half when he went wrong to send the ball into an empty net due to some extraordinary defending.
But the German International struggled more and more as the game went on, much to the displeasing of supporters and clearly his teammates too.
The 24-year-old had another opportunity to level the score for Mikel Arteta’s side after they allowed a goal in the first minute of the match.
But the former Bayer Leverkusen player was seen on his heels rather than gambling as the ball was fizzed across goal for a tap-in by Bukayo Saka, with team-mate Rice discovered whipping his arms in frustration and staring at the sky.
The offensive midfielder’s confidence appeared to be at an all-time low as he struggled with even the simplest of link-up plays.
Gabriel Martinelli received a pass behind him instead of the through ball he was expecting from Havertz. The ball nearly went out of play, that was the moment Rice completely lost his cool with the former Chelsea player.
Havertz was taken out of the game in the 56th minute by Mikel Arteta after he received the ball in space but attempted a weak pass back to Rice that was intercepted.
The Gunners’ fan base noticed a trend between Havertz’s mistakes and Rice, who has made an immediate impact at the Emirates after his club record transfer from West Ham United.
Earlier in the match, Rice had felt the same disappointment as Havertz failed to convert a clear scoring opportunity on a Bukayo Saka cutback. It was one of numerous chances the Gunners wasted where they still might have won the game.
Mikel Arteta’s men rallied with goals from Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah and a red card for Fulham center-back Calvin Bassey after falling behind early.
The ten-man Fulham scored an equalizer in the 88th minute, and they were able to hold on for the full nine minutes of additional time.
Arsenal failed to capitalize on their opportunity to put maximum pressure on Manchester City by going top of the League.
Meanwhile, On Sunday, 27th of August, the defending champions will face a Sheffield United team that they dispatched in the FA Cup semi-finals a year ago.
Arsenal manager Mike Arteta was not very concerned with Havertz’s performance despite the new signing’s recent struggles.
Speaking of Havertz’s performance, Arteta said; “No I’m not worried”.
“I saw an action when he played backward and he could have turned. What’s more, I think the demands of everybody to play forward and to impact the game in the final third because we had the urgency to win”.
When the manager was asked if he felt Havertz would win the supporters over, he said; “Yes, I think so, I think he’s done already really good things”.
What’s next for Arsenal?
The Gunners will be back in action again on Sunday, September 3rd, 2023 when they’ll host Manchester United at Emirates Stadium.
