Joe Cole wishes 'brilliant' Kai Havertz stayed at Chelsea last summer

Joe Cole insists Kai Havertz has been a 'great signing' for Arsenal and wishes the former Chelsea star stayed at Stamford Bridge last summer.

The two London giants are set to lock horns at the Emirates on Tuesday, with Arsenal top of the Premier League after beating Wolves 2-0 at the weekend.

Chelsea, meanwhile, head into the London derby off the back of their bitter FA Cup exit, having narrowly lost 1-0 to Manchester City in Saturday's semi-final at Wembley.

Havertz, who has nine goals and five assists in the Premier League this campaign, will hope to keep pressure on title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool by inspiring the Gunners to victory against his former club on Tuesday.

Heaping praise on the Germany star, who joined Arsenal for £65million in the summer, Cole urged that Havertz is a 'brilliant' footballer and claimed his best position is at centre forward.

'I always liked him as a No 9. He was a brilliant player for Chelsea,' the TNT Sports pundit said.

'He came in with a massive transfer fee, played in multiple positions and ultimately scored the winner in the Champions League final (in 2021). I've always liked him and I didn't want to see him go.

'He's gone there (Arsenal) and he's done really well, found his feet. He's a box player - whether he plays as a No 9 or a false 9 - he's got a lovely instinct to score goals and has that weight of pass and calmness.'

Cole claims Havertz gave Chelsea a focal point in attack, similar to several iconic Blues strikers who came before him, such as Didier Drogba, Diego Costa and Fernando Torres.

Current Chelsea No 9 Nicolas Jackson, who arrived at Stamford Bridge for £30m last summer, missed a catalogue of chances at Wembley on Saturday and received just 4/10 in Mail Sport's