Richard Keys says Mikel Arteta will destroy one Arsenal player’s career after seeing what he’s done

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta comes under a lot of criticism for some of his decisions.

In the game against Manchester City, the Spaniard was accused of being too cautious because he deployed a midfield three of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino.

All three players worked tirelessly in the middle of the park, but they couldn’t generate a huge number of chances in the first half.

Seeing that, Richard Keys has claimed that one current Arsenal player’s career could be affected because of Arteta’s midfield selections.

Viktor Gyokeres told his Arsenal career could be ruined because of Mikel Arteta

Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP in the summer transfer window.

The Gunners were desperate for a new striker, and after long negotiations, a deal was struck to bring him to the Emirates.

Gyokeres has scored three goals in six games since the start of the season, but in the big fixtures against Manchester United, Liverpool and most recently Manchester City, he hasn’t had much service.

Keys saw Mikel Arteta deploy Merino, Rice and Zubimendi in the middle of the park, and he believes that such a system will ‘kill’ Gyokeres at Arsenal unless Arteta changes.

He wrote on his website: “You’ve also got to ask why did Arteta buy Gyokeres if he’s not going to play to his strengths?

“He doesn’t want to be part of a tippy-tappy fest. He wants crosses. He wants balls over the top like Haaland gets now. He got nothing yesterday (Sunday).

“Arteta will kill him unless he adapts.”

What should Arsenal do to get the best out of Viktor Gyokeres?

Arteta’s midfield selection against Manchester City was not popular among Arsenal fans either, but some of the criticism is overboard.

However, the one thing that is valid is that Gyokeres barely had any service from the players behind him.

Arteta starting Martin Odegaard or Eberechi Eze in the number 10 role would change that in the coming weeks, while Bukayo Saka’s return would also increase the creativity in the side.

To add to that, Gyokeres’ understanding with the players around him will improve, as will theirs with him, which should translate into goals.

Hopefully, that happens very soon.