"Has stalled Arsenal’s progress for 4 years" - Fans slam Gunners star after loss to Bayern Munich in Champions League Q/F

Arsenal star Kai Havertz has been criticized on social media after Bayern Munich knocked his side out of the UEFA Champions League.

The Gunners suffered a 1-0 defeat at the Allianz Arena tonight (April 17) meaning they lost their quarterfinal tie 2-1 on aggregate. Havertz's Germany teammate Joshua Kimmich scored the winner for the Bavarians.

Havertz has been enjoying a career renaissance at Arsenal since arriving from Chelsea last summer. He's bagged 10 goals and five assists in 45 games across competitions and many argue he's proved his doubters wrong.

However, the 24-year-old failed to replicate his recent impressive form against Bayern tonight. He played in a false nine role but had just one shot all game although he won five of six aerial duels.

Arsenal headed into tonight's game after a disastrous 2-0 home loss to Aston Villa in the league. Mikel Arteta's men are dangerously close to finishing the season trophyless.

Arteta earned praise for guiding the Gunners into the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2010. That's as far as they'll go though as Bayern will face Real Madrid in the semifinals after they beat Manchester City.

Fans have intriguingly pointed the finger at Havertz after a quiet night for the Germany international. One fan thinks signing him has set the north Londoners back:

"£65m on Kai Havertz has stalled Arsenal’s progress for 4 years. Absolute nothing player. Nothing to his game. This cringey blind faith bulls*** fans do pretending he’s an elite player, absolute waste of money."

A Chelsea fan sarcastically mocked Havertz's sale:

"TGhank you Chelsea for Kai Havertz."

Here's how other fans on X (formerly Twitter) reacted to Havertz's display against Bayern:

"Get Kai Havertz out of my club," demanded another fan.

"All Havertz did today was tour the pitch for 90 minutes," one fan insisted.

More fans took aim at the German while one even slammed Bukayo Saka:

"After havertz finally convinced me, now i think again it was wasted 60m. Ideally i don‘t want him as 8 neither as striker. Better players around we could have gotten for 60m. Saka was once again bad aswell. He is starting to get very inconsistent," wrote one fan.

"Havertz is honestly the biggest waste of money possible. Rice stalls you as well but you're not ready for that conversation," a Tottenham fan claimed.

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Don Hutchison felt Kai Havertz shouldn't have started in midfield for Arsenal against Aston Villa

Kai Havertz has endured two difficult games.

Havertz was moved into midfield for Arsenal's vital clash with Aston Villa in the league on Sunday (April 14). It was a questionable decision from Arteta but he looked to accommodate Leandro Trossard.

The Gunners ended up losing 2-0 and their title hopes were placed into jeopardy. Goals from Leon Bailey (84') and Ollie Watkins (87') did the damage at the Emirates.

Don Hutchison argued that Arteta made the wrong call bringing Havertz into midfield. The talkSPORT pundit insisted Jorginho should have started (via TBR Football):

“It’s always a risk when you put Havertz into midfield. It’s not his best position. He was just starting to score goals. Jorginho would’ve been the better option in my opinion, someone who can control the game."

Arsenal's defeat left them second in the title race, two points behind leaders Manchester City with six games left. Havertz's fine upturn in form with the north Londoners this season will be marred if it doesn't lead to trophy success.