Arsenal star Kai Havertz stuns Rob Holding in touch challenge with mammoth score
Kai Havertz put on a remarkable display in the touch challenge, leading Arsenal to victory over the MLS All-Stars. With an impressive score of 86 points, Havertz left his teammate Rob Holding in awe of his touch and volley technique at Audi Field.
Marquinhos had previously scored 53 points in the touch challenge, but Havertz quickly surpassed that tally. Holding was left amazed by Havertz’s mammoth points total.
The Arsenal trio of Havertz, Marquinhos, and Holding competed against the MLS trio of Thiago Almada, Hector Herrera, and Hany Mukhtar. This touch challenge took place a day before their scheduled match on the football pitch.
Before the touch drill, Arsenal had already defeated the MLS team in the shooting challenge, thanks to Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior, and Folarin Balogun.
In the touch challenge, three players participated, with two of them delivering passes to the player in the middle. The player in the middle had two touches to direct the ball into a designated zone. They had 90 seconds to score as many points as possible, with different zones offering varying point values.
The drill also included five balls fired in from behind the goal, with scores doubling if the player successfully hit one of the targets. Marquinhos and Havertz were chosen by Arsenal to take center stage, with the Brazilian winger scoring a respectable 53 points.
Havertz dominated the touch challenge, leaving the MLS All-Star squad with little chance. Even though the MLS team had a few attempts on target, Havertz ran away with the challenge, impressing everyone.
Following the drill, Holding was quick to applaud Havertz for his outstanding performance. Havertz, a versatile German player, was delighted with his impressive score.
However, Havertz’s success in the touch challenge didn’t carry over to the next event. In the cross and volley drill, he failed to score a single goal, leaving him feeling rather embarrassed.
Despite this setback, Havertz’s exceptional performance in the touch challenge showcased his skills and left a lasting impression.
Arsenal’s rising star Kai Havertz has caused quite a stir both on and off the pitch today at London Colney. In a remarkable show of skill, the German midfielder has stunned veteran Rob Holding with an impressive score of 67-33 in a friendly touch game.
It was no surprise that the young German star was the overwhelming victor in a challenge designed to test the two players’ hand-eye coordination. Havertz, 21, has already developed a reputation as a highly technical player since his transfer to the Gunners from former employers Bayer Leverkusen earlier this summer.
The touch game was played by passing small hand-sized rubber balls between both competitors, with each requiring a minimum of three touches before returning the ball to their opponent. After taking the lead early on with almost perfect scores on both sides, it was clear that Havertz was the eventual victor.
The German midfielder celebrated his feat with a fist pump, before a gracious Rob Holding extended the offering of a handshake, in acknowledgement of the masterclass his newest team-mate had just put together.
It was another indication that the future looks bright for the North London team, with their new signing showing further evidence of his quality. Hope for Mikel Arteta’s team is on the horizon and if they can integrate the summer arrivals into the team as quickly as possible, then there might be more surprises like this throughout the campaign.