Joe Cole wishes ‘brilliant’ Kai Havertz stayed at Chelsea last summer… as he insists the German forward has been a ‘GREAT signing’ for Arsenal ahead of Tuesday’s clash at the Emirates

Joe Cole insists Kai Havertz has been a ‘great signing’ for Arsenal and wishes the former Chelsea star stayed at Stamford Bridge last summer.

The two London giants will clash at the Emirates on Tuesday, with Arsenal top of the Premier League after a 2-0 win over Wolves this weekend.

Chelsea, meanwhile, go into the London derby on the back of their acrimonious FA Cup exit after narrowly losing 1-0 to Manchester City in the semi-final at Wembley on Saturday.

Havertz, who has nine goals and five assists in the Premier League this season, will hope to keep the pressure on title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool by inspiring the Gunners to victory against his former club on Tuesday.

Cole praised the German star, who joined Arsenal for £65million this summer, and insisted Havertz is a ‘brilliant’ footballer. He claimed that his best position is a central striker.

Former Chelsea player Cole (above) says Havertz has been a ‘great signing’ for the Gunners

Havertz played a crucial role in Chelsea’s victory in the 2021 Champions League, scoring the winner

“I always liked him as a number 9. He was a brilliant player for Chelsea,” he says TNT Sports said expert.

‘He came in with a huge transfer fee, played in multiple positions and eventually scored the winner in the Champions League final (in 2021). I always liked him and I didn’t want to see him leave.

‘He went there (Arsenal) and he did very well, found his feet. He is a box player – whether he plays as a number 9 or as a false 9 – he has a wonderful instinct to score goals and has the weight of passing and composure.”

Cole claims Havertz gave Chelsea a focal point in attack, similar to several iconic Blues strikers who came before him, such as Didier Drogba, Diego Costa and Fernando Torres.

Current Chelsea number 9 Nicolas Jackson, who arrived at Stamford Bridge for £30m last summer, missed a raft of chances at Wembley on Saturday and was rated just 4/10 in Mail Sport’s post-match player ratings.

Chelsea suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final

Mauricio Pochettino’s youthful Chelsea are making gradual progress but will now have to settle for another season without silverware after last lifting a trophy in 2021.

Cole continued to rave about Havertz, adding: “He is one of those players I would have liked to have stayed with at Chelsea. He’s a great player.

‘When he played that role for Chelsea, he was synonymous with strikers of the last 20 years such as Drogba, Torres and Costa. Fans are used to that. I think he has done a great job for Chelsea and has been a great signing for Arsenal.”

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