Arteta insists Arsenal teammates must share blame for Gyokeres display

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal need to share the blame for Viktor Gyokeres’ minimal impact against Wolves on Saturday, arguing the striker needed better service.

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Many Arsenal fans went into Saturday’s game against 20th-placed Wolves hoping it could be a springboard for a few players to grab a goal and build some momentum, with Viktor Gyokeres perhaps foremost amongst that group.

Yet the Gunners’ only two goals were own goals, with Gyokeres limited to just 15 touches.

The striker did have a couple of moments, with one flicked header going wide at 0-0, and another nice control, turn, and shot also going just wide of the post at 1-0. But those were half-chances at best in a quiet game.

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Following the match, Mikel Arteta was asked whether Gyokeres’ quiet performance had more to do with him, or with the service from his teammates.

“It’s a collaboration between the two,” Arteta insisted. “He was in a lot of really good positions and the ball didn’t get into the area quick enough, sharp enough or just with the precision that is required for a No.9 to score the goal.

“But his work rate and intentions were there and we need to keep insisting.”

Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

To be generous, perhaps one issue for Arsenal with regards to their use of Gyokeres at the moment is that their striker options still aren’t all fully fit.

In an ideal world, Kai Havertz would have started the Wolves game, with his target-man style helping to break down Wolves’ stubborn low block. Then Gyokeres would have entered proceedings once Arsenal had the lead, threatening on the counter and pushing Wolves back.

Instead, Gyokeres faced the low block, then came off when Arsenal were ahead, allowing Wolves to push up and grab an equaliser.

That said, it will frustrate Arsenal fans that they still don’t seem to have a striker capable of doing it all. Jesus excels at link-up play, Havertz has the physicality to create chances for himself, and Gyokeres can finish them, but it’s not much good having those traits spread across three different players.

Perhaps Arteta is right that Arsenal need to play to Gyokeres’ strengths more, but something certainly has to change if the Gunners hope to stay top of the league until the end of May.