Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has defended striker Victor Gyokeres’ performance in the 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Sunday.
Gyokeres, 27, was quiet in the stalemate and was limited to just 22 touches, highlighting his struggles against the big sides since his move to England.
The Sweden striker has faced criticism, having also struggled in matches against Manchester United, Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher questioned the striker’s quality after the game and expressed doubts over his ability to influence top games.
“There’s a lot of talk of, is he elite? In the biggest games, he has looked a little bit short”, Carragher said after the match.
“I don’t believe if Arsenal are to win the league, it will be because of Gyökeres. If they do it, it will be [because of] the two centre-backs.
He hasn’t had a kick today and he might get criticism again on the back of the game today, but I don’t think in those three games he’s had a chance,” Carragher added.
They haven’t created a chance for him. So I go back to when people keep saying ‘Arsenal’s problem is finishing.’. But it’s not, it’s creating. They don’t create enough … they haven’t created one chance for him.”
Speaking after the match, Arteta was in defense of his striker and believes there will be plenty of opportunities to make impact on matches.
“Well, there were a lot of situations that the chances were there and then especially 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 he 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 and trying to do that, and we have to provide more for him, that’s it”, the Spaniard added.
Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage time goal canceled out a first half effort from Erling Haaland as both sides shared the spoils in the match.
Arsenal next face Port Vale in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday, while Manchester City are also in action against Huddersfield on the same day.
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