As Arsenal prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, Kai Havertz stands at a familiar crossroads. Five years after his left-footed strike sealed Chelsea’s shock 2021 Champions League triumph over Manchester City, the German forward is once again an underdog on European club football’s grandest stage. "It is something I will never forget," Havertz said of that night in Porto. "As a kid I could have never dreamed I would score in the final and win. I’ll always be proud of it." Now, he aims to repeat history with the Gunners, who enter the final as freshly crowned Premier League champions for the first time since 2004.
Arsenal’s journey to this point has been marked by resilience. A Carabao Cup final defeat to City in March served as a turning point. Instead of deflating, the loss galvanized the squad. "We just said to ourselves that we need to come back stronger," Havertz revealed. After the international break, the team returned with renewed focus, embarking on a run that ultimately delivered the league title. That domestic success, Havertz believes, provides a crucial psychological edge against the Parisians.
Havertz’s personal path has been far from smooth. On the opening day of the season, a challenge at Old Trafford left him with a knee injury that was initially expected to sideline him for weeks. Complications led to two surgeries and nearly five months on the treatment table. "I was in a bad place," he admitted. "You cannot walk, you do nothing. But all the players and staff helped me believe in myself." The enforced absence only deepened his hunger to contribute upon his January return.
His comeback was not merely a sentimental footnote. Havertz scored decisive goals in the Champions League knockout rounds, including a crucial effort at his former club Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 and another away at Sporting in the quarter-finals. His first Premier League goal at the Emirates for over a year, in a victory over Burnley, effectively teed up the title win the following night. These moments underscored his ability to deliver when it matters most, echoing the composure he showed in 2021.
Manager Mikel Arteta has been a central figure in Havertz’s Arsenal revival. Signed for £65 million from Chelsea in 2023, Havertz initially faced skepticism, but Arteta’s belief never wavered. "He brought me to the club and taught me so much, on and off the pitch," Havertz said. "It’s nice that we got him a little gift back now – the Premier League title. He brought the club back to where it belongs." That trust has been repaid with faith on the team sheet, with Havertz starting recent key fixtures ahead of summer signing Viktor Gyökeres.
The Champions League final holds a mythic quality for Havertz. "Just to watch that final is something very special," he explained. "So to play in it is unreal. There is so much history with it – so many big players have played in it. To be there, to compete to win the trophy, is amazing." Having tasted success once, he is acutely aware that getting there is only half the battle. "You need to make that step and win it. It is going to be hard, but we will be well prepared."
Perspective makes the occasion even more poignant. Havertz missed almost the entire first half of the season, watching from the sidelines as his teammates fought through the grueling campaign. "Everyone told me from January that there is so much to play for," he recalled. "That’s where my momentum shifted." Now, he stands ready to start in Budapest, his knee healed and his mind sharpened by adversity.
Arsenal may be viewed as underdogs against a star-studded PSG side, but Havertz dismisses the label. "We have been fighting at the highest level for years and we have finally won the Premier League. That gives us a big boost. It doesn’t matter if you’re an underdog or whatever. We are going to go on the pitch and beat them." It’s the same quiet confidence that propelled Chelsea past City in 2021, when few outside the dressing room gave them a chance.
Saturday’s final presents a collision of narratives: Arteta’s project reaching its zenith, Havertz’s chance to join an elite group of players with winner’s medals from two different clubs, and Arsenal’s opportunity to cement a dynasty. For Havertz, it’s also a shot at redemption after months of pain. "I try to help the team every day – I did that even when I was injured, just helping off the pitch. That is always important." Now, his help can come in the most tangible form – goals on the biggest stage.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.