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Kai Havertz swapped Chelsea for Arsenal for £65m last summer (Image: GETTY)
Joe Cole wishes Chelsea never sold the "brilliant" Kai Havertz who goes face-to-face with his old club for Arsenal tonight at the Emirates (8pm). The forward was only a substitute in October's 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge when the Gunners launched a late comeback.
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But the Germany international will hope to play more of a starring role against his former employers this time around. Havertz only left Chelsea for Arsenal for £65million last summer.
His return of nine goals and five assists in the Premier League means he has already bettered his best ever season for Chelsea in the league (8g, 3a in 2021-22). And he could hit double figures by finding the net against the Blues.
Former Chelsea midfielder Cole, who scored 39 times himself in 282 matches across all competitions for the Londoners, admits he wishes Havertz was still wearing blue for this evening.
TNT Sports pundit Cole told media including Express Sport: "I always liked him as a No.9. I thought he was a brilliant player for Chelsea. He came in with a massive transfer fee and he played in multiple positions and always did a good job.
"And he scored the winning goal in the [Champions League] final. I've always liked him. I didn't want to see him go. He's gone there and done really well and found his feet. He's a box player, whether he plays as a No.9 or a false nine, he's got a lovely instinct to score goals and a lovely weight of pass and calmness.
"I'd have loved to see him stay at Chelsea, I really would. I think he's a cracking player. When he was playing that role for Chelsea, that role was synonymous of the last 20 years of like [Didier] Drogba, [Fernando] Torres and [Diego] Costa, recognised centre-forwards.
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"When he was playing there, Chelsea fans are used to having that. I thought he did a great job at Chelsea and he was a great signing for Arsenal."
Chelsea's replacement for Havertz was Nicolas Jackson who joined last summer from Villarreal for around £30m. He has 10 goals and four assists in his debut Premier League season but his profligacy has cause frustration at Stamford Bridge.
Had the 22-year-old Senegalese centre-forward been more prolific last Saturday, Chelsea might've beaten Manchester City in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Instead he wasted some excellent opportunities and that is sadly nothing new.
Only Erling Haaland (30), Darwin Nunez (25) and Ollie Watkins (20) have missed more big chances than Jackson's 18 in the Premier League this season. But their top-flight goal contributions are all superior to his - Haaland with 20 goals and five assists, Nunez with 11 and eight and Watkins boasting 19 and 12.
Cole, though, insists his old club must keep the faith. "He does a lot of things on the pitch very, very well," the ex-England international said of Jackson. "He can be a handful, he's got great feet, he can run the channel, he's a willing worker.
"He's a young striker so he's got time on his side to improve. If I was working with him as a centre-forward, a lot of it is confidence. We see strikers get to 21, 22, 23 and not have a great goal record and then something clicks and they go.
Pochettino admits Cole Palmer 'doubtful' for Chelsea's trip to Arsenal
"He's got that opportunity but it's down to the lad and his mindset. I don't know him. It's always about moments with the centre-forwards - you have to produce in the moment. He's got time on his hand.
"He might need someone to come in and push him a little bit and share the responsibility as a No.9. Chelsea - [Christopher] Nkunku can play in a number of positions but Jackson you'd probably say is predominantly a No.9.
"They'll definitely strengthen in that area but you have to believe in him. They bought him as a young player so he has to be nurtured and brought on. We've seen it before so many times where players kick on.
"He's one of them centre-forwards I'd have loved to work with. The hardest job to do in football is to be a goalscorer. It's why they get all the money. It's the mind more than the technique with him I think.
"He needs to relax in front of goal. We've seen him produce some lovely finishes this year. I hope he can get to where he needs to go."
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