Former Chelsea star Joe Cole has criticised his old club for allowing Kai Havertz to join London rivals Arsenal, describing the decision as “unacceptable” after the German forward scored against Chelsea in the Premier League.
Havertz was on target as Arsenal came from behind to defeat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Morgan Rogers gave Chelsea an early lead, but Havertz equalised before Martin Ødegaard completed Arsenal’s comeback after half-time.
Speaking after the match, Cole questioned why Chelsea allowed a player who has developed into a “world-class” performer to join a direct Premier League rival.
“It happened with Kevin De Bruyne; it happened with Kai Havertz. Those kinds of deals never happened at Manchester United with Sir Alex Ferguson or with Arsene Wenger at Arsenal,” Cole said.
He added: “When did you hear of them letting go of a player who went on to become world-class at one of your rivals?”
Cole’s comments have renewed debate over Chelsea’s transfer strategy, particularly decisions involving players who later establish themselves at competing Premier League clubs. Havertz has become an important part of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side, with his versatility, movement and ability to contribute in attack making him a valuable option.
The timing of Cole’s criticism is significant because Havertz directly influenced the latest meeting between the two clubs. His equaliser helped Arsenal recover from Chelsea’s early advantage before his clever movement contributed to Ødegaard’s winning goal.
The result also extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run against Chelsea to 12 matches across all competitions, while the Gunners maintained their perfect start to the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.
Havertz joined Arsenal from Chelsea in 2023 after spending three seasons at Stamford Bridge. His emergence as a key player under Arteta has since made the transfer one of the most debated moves between the two London rivals.
