Troy Deeney believes Mikel Arteta isn’t saying exactly what he really thinks of one Arsenal player to the media.
Arteta has faced criticism so far this season for being too pragmatic with his team selection decisions, with many feeling that the Spaniard could be bolder against the best teams in the league.
The Gunners already sit five points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after five matches, and thus, cannot afford many more slip-ups in the coming weeks.
However, while Arteta’s tactics have been lamented, he has built a defensive foundation which would see his team thrive if Arsenal’s attacking players start clicking into gear.
Troy Deeney says Mikel Arteta doesn’t really think Viktor Gyokeres has been playing well
Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres for £63 million from Sporting CP in the summer.
The Swede arrived with big expectations, and he’s thus far only shown his quality in small glimpses, netting three times but failing to register a shot against Manchester United, Liverpool or Manchester City.
There are concerns around whether the player is adapting physically to the Premier League, although Arteta remained positive about the striker after his disappointing showing against City, claiming his team have to do more to service him, not the other way around.
“There were a lot of situations that chances were there but then the final pass was missing,” Arteta said.
“There were a lot of very good balls in the box, especially I remember three of them that [Gyokeres] was very, very close to doing it against City.
“To have very big open chances is extremely difficult, but he’s certainly trying his best to do that.”
Troy Deeney has been vocal in his criticism of Gyokeres, and the former Watford striker has responded to Arteta’s latest comments on the 27-year-old.
The pundit believes the manager is merely posturing publicly, and that he won’t actually be satisfied with what Gyokeres is producing.
“I was in here on Sunday night, and he said that Gyokeres had an excellent game,” Deeney said on talkSPORT.
“I know you’ve got to get him on side, but we could all see through that. Do you know what I mean? I think having that little bit of like level is great in the hard moments, but you are allowed to show a little bit of personality. You are allowed to show a little bit of who you are.
“I just think like we’re becoming media trained and fans are seeing through it.”
Mikel Arteta would be unwise not to support Viktor Gyokeres publicly
In his short managerial stint at Forest Green Rovers, Deeney publicly criticised his squad.
This didn’t go down well, as the Watford legend lasted just six matches in the dugout before he was sacked, having not won a single game.
It’s clear from this example alone that venting frustrations about a player in a public setting generally isn’t advisable for a coach.
Arteta would be unwise to publicly lambast Gyokeres, who needs constant support to ensure his confidence doesn’t suffer as a result of the outside pressure.
Even if the tactician is concerned with elements of the Sweden international’s game, these things can be refined and dealt with behind closed doors.
Gyokeres has been described as ‘brilliant’ in the past, and that’s because he certainly has talent; it just needs to be unlocked consistently.
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