Jorginho says you don't know football if you can't like Arsenal teammate

The Italy international opened up on his true thoughts about Arsenal teammate Kai Havertz.

Jorginho has claimed you can’t help but appreciate Arsenal teammate Kai Havertz if you know football.

Since his £65 million summer arrival from Chelsea, Havertz has dealt with a string of critics. His struggles to adapt to his new position at Arsenal spurned more doubts over his move. Yet, having scored a goal in two of the club’s last three games, he appears to have turned a corner.

Jorginho, who has played alongside Havertz at both Chelsea and Arsenal in the last three years, has now suggested the German’s talents are misunderstood.

“As a player, his qualities are intelligence,” Jorginho told The Athletic about Havertz.

“It’s funny because you look at him and think he is not fast, but he is fast. Then you think he’s not strong because maybe he looks skinny but then he goes to the challenge and he’s strong.

“Maybe it takes a little bit of time for people to understand his qualities and what he brings to the team and how much effort he puts in and how much hard work he puts in.

“His qualities come out when his confidence is all of a sudden much higher. His technique, his finishing, it looks like he just put it there like he doesn’t care and the ball goes in the corner and I’m like ‘How do you do that?’

“He is such a huge player and I’m telling you this guy is so so so good and I hope everyone can appreciate it.”

Asked if he could relate to Havertz’s challenges in winning over skeptics, Jorginho responded: “For sure 100%. If you know football it’s not possible you don’t like Kai.

“It happened to me a lot but when you play beside him it’s just different you know and you see straight away his qualities and what he can offer you.”

Havertz will hope to continue his fine form for Arsenal on Tuesday when the Gunners visit Luton Town in the Premier League.