Rob Green says Arsenal star proved he’s ‘way off it’ after what happened in the 44th minute vs Man City

Add as preferred source on Google

Pundit Rob Green couldn’t believe what he saw in the first half of Arsenal’s meeting with Manchester City at the Emirates.

It was a punishing opening 45 minutes for Arsenal, who conceded to Man City just nine minutes into the contest. 

Erling Haaland opened the scoring with a remarkable goal to carve the hosts open, leading Arsenal fans to criticise William Saliba. 

Saliba’s role in Haaland’s goal was questionable, but the Frenchman wasn’t the only one to collect some unfavourable reviews in the first half.

Rob Green was not impressed with Viktor Gyokeres vs Man City

All eyes were on the two strikers ahead of the game, with Haaland making his mark early on.

Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick against Man City last season, so he knows how to hurt Pep Guardiola’s side, but he wasn’t able to do it early in the match.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live during the 44th minute of the clash, pundit Rob Green admitted he was unimpressed by Gyokeres.

“It’s a brilliant ball from Timber initially; he fizzes it across the front post, and it is screaming out for Gyokeres to make the run,” Green said.

“He’s way off it. Whether because it’s 40 minutes in and he’s blowing, I don’t know, but he doesn’t make the run.”

Green couldn’t work out why Gyokeres did not run into space to get on the end of Jurrien Timber’s cross, with Arsenal’s striker absent at a crucial moment.

Gyokeres’ first-half statistics vs Man City

It was a testing first half for all of Arsenal’s attackers, with only Noni Madueke providing a real spark in the final third. 

That being said, chances were carved out, opportunities that the Gunners would’ve loved to see Gyokeres get on the end of. 

It was a rather isolated first half from the Swede, who had only 13 touches on the ball and completed just four passes.

Arsenal aren’t unfamiliar with hearing about Gyokeres being isolated, with the early moments from the clash against City revealing the same narrative.

In the battle of the strikers, Haaland certainly won the first half, giving Arsenal’s centre-forward additional motivation to up his game after the interval.