Jamie Carragher has once again questioned Viktor Gyokeres’ place in Mikel Arteta’s strongest Arsenal lineup, insisting he does not believe the striker will feature in the club’s biggest matches.
The Swedish forward has started all three of Arsenal’s Premier League games so far, scoring twice in the 5-0 victory over newly promoted Leeds United. However, in tougher away trips to Old Trafford and Anfield, Gyokeres failed to make a significant impact. Against Liverpool, in particular, he was left isolated and struggled to influence the game.
Earlier in the season, the 26-year-old was substituted after just 60 minutes of his debut against Manchester United, with Kai Havertz replacing him. Havertz has since undergone surgery and remains sidelined, leaving uncertainty around his return date. Arteta confirmed the midfielder will be out for “many weeks,” though stressed the priority is ensuring he comes back in good condition.
With both Havertz and Bukayo Saka unavailable, the pressure has increased on Gyokeres to deliver for the Gunners. Even so, Carragher remains unconvinced. Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, he argued that while Gyokeres has already scored twice, he does not possess the quality to start in Arsenal’s biggest fixtures.
“He’s already got two goals in three games, but he’s not the easiest on the eye,” Carragher said. “I said before the season that when Kai Havertz is fit, he will start in the biggest games ahead of Gyokeres.”
The former Liverpool defender’s latest remarks underline his stance that Arsenal’s new signing may not be trusted in the most high-profile encounters.
