Viktor Gyokeres spent another game on the bench as Arsenal faced Sunderland in the Premier League this weekend, leaving the Swede concerned about how his season has started.
It was already known that Kai Havertz is ahead of him in the pecking order at the club, but Gyokeres would have expected to receive at least some opportunities from the bench during matches. Instead, those chances have been limited.
Gyokeres struggling for opportunities
Gyokeres has often been forced to watch from the sidelines for the entire game, as was the case against a strong Sunderland side. His lack of involvement will be frustrating, particularly given the expectations surrounding his arrival and his hopes of establishing himself in the Arsenal attack.
When so much is at stake, Mikel Arteta appears reluctant to trust him in important games. The manager will be hoping Havertz remains fit, while Gyokeres will be hoping something forces the German out of the team and gives him more opportunities to play.
Arsenal remain one of the teams to watch this season, but Manchester City’s continued run of victories means the Gunners have little room for error. They need to be close to perfect, which could make it increasingly difficult for players who fail to deliver when given opportunities to secure regular game time.
Aliadiere questions Arsenal’s style
Gyokeres currently finds himself in that category, which is unfortunate given how much was expected from him this term. His situation is becoming a talking point, with questions now being raised over whether Arsenal’s current approach is allowing him to perform at his best.
Speaking about his situation, Jeremie Aliadiere told LiveFootballTickets, as reported by Sporting News:
“My only concern is that I just feel we’re not playing the style that suits him, and that’s more my concern.
“Mikel always seems to go back to Havertz. Even after Havertz was out for a long time, he brought Havertz back in for the big games because Havertz fits the way we play and the style we play.”
The comments highlight the difficulty facing Gyokeres as he attempts to earn Arteta’s trust. With Havertz preferred for important matches and Arsenal demanding consistent performances, the Swede may have to wait patiently for his opportunity.
For now, Gyokeres’ position remains difficult, and the lack of minutes will be a concern as the season progresses.
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Haveetz is playing well enough for now to retain his starting place ..
Gyokeres will start tomorrow for sure and then it’s up to him to force his way into the team . If he keeps scoring when he comes on then at some point Arteta has to start him
Same for a number of players
Those guaranteed to start if fit for major matches are :
Raya
Timber ( especially now White injured)
Gabriel
Calafiori
Konsa (till Saliba returns )
Rice
Odegaard
Saka
Havertz
So MLS / Guimares competing
Trolis Madueke and Eze
Great for the team with so much competition
What’s “Major Matches”? Every PL game, every CL game?
There’s no premier league league game home or away that’s easy. Your list of starters never rotated and rested in any PL game?
Looking at the JA match thread, some were alarmed Rice taken off with just ten minutes to go – expressing we needed Rice for those 10 minutes.
A tiring Rice is better than a bench player replacing him?
Rice feeling something in his thighs, but not given a rest more likely to become a broken Rice you don’t even get a choice to play or rest. And the same applies to everyone on your list.
100% agree, it’s not that he’s a bad player, we just playing a style that doesn’t suit him. Tiki taka passing around the edge of the box, instead of quick transitions allowing him to use his pace and physicality. Pretty much those quick counter attacks from deep which gives him more space to work with.
I am pretty sure he will play a lot of CL games which offer more space. This game against Napoli was a bit of an exception, that’s generally how they play, especially under Allegri. Having 10 players defending deep, allowing minimal space to work with.
He should definitely start the game against Ipswich.
I don’t know why Gyokeres no longer being a starter is being made such a big deal. He’s not the only one. All our signings from last summer are now bench players. He’s a good player but not better than Havertz. Even when we signed him,I saw him as a capable back up to Havertz – think Mikel saw it that way too. Unfortunately,Havertz was injured and Viktor had to play – he did fairly well.
I’ve never believed a team should abandon its ethos to suit one player,unless we are talking about generational talent like Messi,Cristiano,Haaland,Mbappe etc Why rip apart what worked for 10 players to suit one? Doesn’t make sense. It’s the new player who should adapt to the new team. The more important question is,why did the recruitment team buy a player clearly not suited to the ethos of the manager? Were there no alternatives? Joao Pedro,for instance?
@Onyango, that is a very fair assessment.
I’ve been questioned by a lot of people when I say I see Havertz as our #1 striker. If he stays fit this whole season I think the numbers he will produce will surprise a lot of people.
He scored 14 in the league,of which 3 were penalties. Havertz scored 13 in 23/24 despite playing half the season in midfield – only 1 penalty. So, excluding penalties, Havertz has actually scored more league goals in a season than Gyokeres – he gets way more assists too.
I’m grateful for Gyokeres for helping us winning the league,as I am to Eze and Madueke, but I think we’d have won it much earlier if we had fully fit Havertz,Odegaard and Saka for the entire season. We score way more goals with those three.
Havertz didn’t play for more than half a season and we won the league with Gyokeres ‘s 21 goals, do you call that fairly well? havertz won’t score that many if the opposition play without a goalkeeper.
first thing gyokeres must do, stop being so stubborn and go for intensive aerobics, cardio, sauna, change diet. arteta gave him enough time to lose that flubby fat, just like he gave fabio vieira enough time to bulk up.
We have 2 strikers; one has a metal skillet for a foot when it comes to touch, but at least he can finish in front of goal.
Our other striker can connect play and link-up, but is a coin flip when it comes to finishing.
Saka is off the boil and missing sitters, Havertz is a coin flip chance to score, Tzolis has only played well at home, and then there is Madueke.
What can I say about Noni, if he was taller, stronger, and faster, he would create and miss more shots.
Sometimes you need a finisher, and look at our last couple matches, we arguably should have score 2 or 3 more in each game.
Cracking me up Durand – metal skillet for a foot 🤣
Harverts is not good enough to start every game he is slow lazy can’t even take on defenders just that Arteta favours him look at our game Sunderland he was nowhere to be found in the pitch I don’t rate him highly
Havertz is not lazy