Mikel Arteta Arsenal
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In a thrilling finish to the Carabao Cup semi-final, Arsenal secured their place in the final at Wembley Stadium next month. The Gunners will face either Manchester City or Newcastle United, but the spotlight is now on Mikel Arteta’s squad selection, particularly the role of Viktor Gyokeres. Football pundits have urged Arteta to reconsider Gyokeres’ position in the team, suggesting that he should be moved to the ‘back of the queue.’
Steve Nicol said: “Viktor Gyokeres has been given six months now. Mikel Arteta has given him six months to separate himself from [Gabriel] Jesus, [Kai] Havertz, and [Mikel] Merino. I was trying to defend him at the start because the way Arsenal play isn’t exactly helpful for a centre forward, but I still thought he was good enough to score goals. I thought he was good enough to get some goals out of nothing, but so far he hasn’t been able to do any of those things, and he hasn’t been able to separate himself from Jesus, Havertz, or Merino. So if you’re Mikel Arteta, before every game you’ve got a decision to make. Gyokeres should actually probably be going to the back of the queue now because you have to contribute somewhere, and he’s not at the moment. With Jesus and Havertz, they absolutely contribute outside of the box.”
Stewart Robson said: “It certainly does because Gyokeres once again did only okay. He doesn’t seem to be able to hold the ball up at the moment and bring others into play, whereas Joao Pedro did it quite often for Chelsea. There’s still some work for him to do. Last year, we were saying Kai Havertz isn’t a good enough centre forward, but maybe he goes back to that role because Gyokeres hasn’t done good enough. but he’s not quite at the races.”
The analysis from Nicol and Robson highlights the challenges Gyokeres faces in establishing himself as a key player for Arsenal. Despite the team’s success under Arteta, Gyokeres has struggled to make a significant impact, especially when compared to his teammates Jesus and Havertz, who contribute both inside and outside the box. As Arsenal prepares to host Sunderland in the Premier League, the decision on who starts up front remains crucial.
Robson further suggested that Gabriel Jesus, if fit, is likely to start against Sunderland due to his recent form and confidence. With Arsenal performing well in the Premier League and Champions League, and now reaching the Carabao Cup final, the team is in a strong position to compete for multiple trophies this season. The Gunners’ fans have much to look forward to as the club aims for silverware under Arteta’s leadership.
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