Arsenal: Why Kai Havertz was happy to celebrate scoring against Chelsea
It has become customary for players to perform muted celebrations against their former clubs, but Kai Havertz clearly didn't get the memo.
The £65million signing didn't try to disguise his joy at scoring Arsenal's third last night, shaking his hands by his ears and sticking out his tongue in his now trademark celebration, which he copied from Neymar.
It's less than three years since Havertz scored one of Chelsea's most iconic goals, in the Champions League Final against Manchester City in 2021.
He looks back fondly at the Europe-conquering team he played for under Thomas Tuchel, but Chelsea have become a different club under the new ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake.
Havertz went from being a marquee signing of the Roman Abramovich era to becoming surplus to requirements, with his ability and best position questioned.
It was refreshing to watch the Havertz celebrations — football at its best revels in raw emotion, and the Germany international clearly feels at home in north London, where thousands of fans sing gleefully "60million down the drain, Kai Havertz scores again!"
Havertz can be dry in interviews, but team-mates say he is silly, sarcastic, and fun to be around. There was no doubting the joy he brought to the Emirates last night.