Mikel Arteta compares first Kai Havertz goal to Usain Bolt quote

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta referenced a famous quote from Usain Bolt when lavishing praise on Kai Havertz following his first Gunners goal in their 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Bournemouth.

The Germany international had endured a slow start to life in North London since making the £65m move from Chelsea, going nine games without scoring or registering an assist.

Havertz has been acclimatising to a deeper midfield role with the Gunners, but he has failed to endear himself to the Emirates faithful owing to a spate of lacklustre performances.

Nevertheless, Arteta has pleaded for patience with Havertz, who started in a familiar-looking midfield with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard at the Vitality Stadium amid Fabio Vieira's knock.

The Gunners dominated proceedings from the off and got to the half-time break with a two-goal advantage, as Bukayo Saka headed home before Odegaard coolly converted a penalty.

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Arsenal were awarded another spot kick early in the second period as Ryan Christie scythed down Odegaard, and Saka bestowed Havertz with the responsibility from 12 yards.

The former Chelsea man kept his cool and calmly found the bottom corner to put the game to bed, before Ben White headed home Odegaard's free kick to cap off a scintillating display.

Arteta's post-game press conference was overwhelmingly Havertz-focused, and he used a motto from the world's fastest man to explain the German's long wait for a confidence-boosting goal, after which he was mobbed by his teammates and treated to songs of affection from the travelling Arsenal fans.

"It will probably change everything, but first of all if he had any question marks about how we feel about him, how much we love him, how much we appreciate everything that he does, I think that's out," the Spaniard said.

"I think in sport, Usain Bolt said it once, I have to train four years to run nine seconds, sometimes you have to do a lot and you don't see that, but in that moment you see it, I'm sure what he's been through in the last few weeks, this moment is worth every moment of the other moments.

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"I am really happy for the win but even happier to be part of something, part of a team that shows the human qualities that they have shown today, without me telling them absolutely nothing to show that and that empathy towards a player that has some question marks to resolve externally, they won me even more today.

"I'm so thankful to our supporters the way they sang his name, have made him feel in the way he has felt today and if there's a person in a dressing room that deserve that, it's Kai Havertz. So happy for him."

However, on a slightly sour note, Saka limped off towards the end for the second Premier League game running, although Arteta was none the wiser about the Englishman's issue or an apparent problem for Gabriel Jesus too.

"I don't know yet I haven't had a chance to speak to him, I think this one was a stamp, it wasn't the same area, I don't know and Gabi was limping after the game, let's see how they are," Arteta added.

Still unbeaten in all competitions this season, Arsenal sit third in the Premier League table and are back in Champions League action away to Ligue 1 outfit Lens on Tuesday.