Pundits Slam Gyokeres Performance as 'Embarrassing'
Mikel Arteta has been urged to relegate summer signing Viktor Gyokeres to the "bottom of the pile" following what critics have described as an "embarrassing" contribution during Arsenal's Carabao Cup semi-final victory over Chelsea. The Gunners secured their place in March's final with a 4-2 aggregate win, but the spotlight has fallen sharply on the £64 million striker's subdued display.
Nicol and Robson Question Striker's Contribution
Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol, speaking on ESPN, expressed his frustration with Gyokeres' lack of impact. "I was trying to defend him at the start because the way Arsenal play isn't exactly helpful for a centre forward," Nicol stated. "But I thought he was good enough to score goals out of nothing. So far, he hasn't been able to do any of those things."
Nicol emphasised that Gyokeres has failed to distinguish himself from other attacking options like Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Mikel Merino. "Gyokeres should actually probably be going to the back of the queue now," he argued. "You have to contribute somewhere, and he's not at the moment. With Jesus and Havertz, they absolutely contribute outside of the box."
Heat Map Statistics Spark Criticism
Former Venezuela international Alejandro Moreno delivered a particularly damning assessment, focusing on Gyokeres' heat map from the match. "That heat map is embarrassing," Moreno declared. "He played for 69 minutes and had 10 touches and only one completed pass. I understand Arsenal do not play through their centre forward, but the heat map tells you his movement isn't all that sharp or abundant."
Moreno suggested that the Swedish international might be becoming frustrated, leading to a reduction in his off-the-ball runs. "That's the worse thing a centre forward can do," he warned. "There isn't a whole lot of movement with Gyokeres. It's an embarrassing heat map."
Robson Backs Jesus for Starting Role
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson concurred with the criticism, noting that Gyokeres "once again did only okay." Robson highlighted a concerning statistic: "The commentator said he only touched the ball once in the first 30 minutes. That tells you he either wasn't making enough runs or his teammates weren't looking forward enough. It's probably both."
Robson believes that Gabriel Jesus should be recalled to the starting lineup for Arsenal's upcoming Premier League fixture against Sunderland. "I think Jesus probably starts against Sunderland if he's fit," Robson said. "He's a confidence player, and he's scored a few goals recently and looks sharp and hungry. Gyokeres is okay at a lot of things, but I don't think he's better than the others."
Context of Arsenal's Victory and Title Chase
Arsenal's progression to the Carabao Cup final was sealed by a late Kai Havertz goal in injury time, coming after a goalless stalemate at the Emirates Stadium. Havertz, a former Chelsea player, was introduced as a substitute for Gyokeres with 20 minutes remaining, ultimately making the decisive contribution.
The Gunners now turn their attention to maintaining their six-point lead at the summit of the Premier League. Their quest for a first league title since 2004 continues with the visit of Sunderland, a match that could see significant changes in Arteta's attacking lineup based on the mounting criticism of his record signing.
In the Carabao Cup final on March 22, Arsenal will face either Manchester City or holders Newcastle United. Pep Guardiola's side currently hold a two-goal advantage heading into the second leg of their semi-final clash, setting the stage for a potentially thrilling conclusion to the competition.
