Arsenal have one of the most united squads in world football.
There hasn’t been a single problem reported behind the scenes at the club for years, and that’s all down to the way Mikel Arteta runs things.
Even the players who don’t play often are fully behind those who start every game. For example, that was evident in the celebrations after Kai Havertz scored against Chelsea.
However, Paul Merson believes Arsenal players have a problem with one teammate – Viktor Gyokeres.
Is it time to drop Viktor Gyokeres, if so, who comes in?
Paul Merson thinks Arsenal players do not trust Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal signed Gyokeres from Sporting CP in the summer.
The Swede was the most prolific striker on the planet during his time in Portugal, and many saw him as the final piece of Arteta’s project.
Gyokeres has scored 10 goals for Arsenal so far, which is not a bad return. But people expected more, and that has led to a debate over whether he is good enough.
The flip side of that argument is that the players around the striker are not helping him enough.
There have been several instances where Gyokeres’ runs in behind have been ignored, while he has also not been seen as an option when he drops deep.
Merson has had his say on that problem.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, the former Gunner said: “I watch Gyokeres. The next time you watch him, Arsenal don’t trust him; the players – they never pass to him.
“You watch him, the next time he comes short, they go ‘no’.”
Merson added: “If you watch him, you will be surprised. Honestly. He comes like that, and they go ‘no’. And then Jesus comes on, they just keep on giving him the ball all the time.”
“I don’t think they trust him at all,” Merson concluded.
Finish the sentence: I BLAME ____ for Viktor Gyokeres’ lack of goals at Arsenal! 😡
Viktor Gyokeres needs better service at Arsenal
Merson definitely has a point.
The Swede doesn’t stop moving when Arsenal have the ball deep in their own half, but the players just don’t seem to utilise his runs.
The only one who has passed it to Gyokeres recently has been Havertz in the game against Kairat. The former Sporting man scored a lovely goal in that action.
We don’t know if ‘trust’ is the right word here, but Arteta has to instruct his players to get his striker involved a lot more than they have done.
If all of them can do what Havertz did, Gyokeres will start scoring for fun.
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