Former Arsenal Star Questions Team Dynamics Around New Striker
In a surprising revelation that has sparked debate among football pundits and fans alike, former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has claimed that current Gunners players "never pass" to striker Viktor Gyokeres, suggesting the Swedish international has yet to win the trust of his teammates six months after his high-profile transfer.
A £64 Million Signing Under Scrutiny
Arsenal made securing a traditional centre-forward their primary objective last summer, identifying Gyokeres as their top target to bolster their title ambitions under manager Mikel Arteta. The 27-year-old arrived from Sporting Lisbon with considerable expectations, given his substantial £64 million transfer fee. However, his adaptation to Premier League football has been inconsistent during his first half-season in North London.
While Gyokeres currently leads Arsenal's Premier League scoring charts with six goals this term, only four of these have come from open play situations. This statistic has raised questions about his integration into Arteta's system, particularly with both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz returning from injury layoffs and applying pressure for starting positions.
Merson's Controversial Observations
Speaking on The Overlap, Merson presented a detailed analysis of what he perceives as a troubling dynamic within the Arsenal squad. "I watch Gyokeres. Next time you watch him... Arsenal don't trust him, the players, they never pass to him," the former England international stated emphatically. "They never pass to him! You watch him, next time he comes short they go, 'No!'"
The ex-midfielder contrasted this with how Arsenal players interact with Gabriel Jesus, claiming there's a noticeable difference in approach. "And then when Gabriel Jesus comes on they just keep on giving it to him all the time. It's different," Merson observed, suggesting preferential treatment exists within the squad.
Recent Form and Managerial Support
Despite these claims, Gyokeres has shown resilience in recent weeks, responding to increased competition by scoring four times in his last seven appearances across all competitions. His performance in Arsenal's emphatic 4-0 victory over Leeds United at Elland Road demonstrated promising chemistry with Havertz, who operated effectively behind the Swedish striker.
Manager Mikel Arteta has publicly supported his forward, praising Gyokeres' development and consistency in recent matches. "Yes, in his all-round play and performances, I would say he has been much more consistent in actions and consecutive actions especially," Arteta told reporters ahead of Arsenal's Carabao Cup semi-final victory over Chelsea.
The Spanish coach specifically highlighted improvements in Gyokeres' defensive contributions and attacking movements, while dismissing concerns about the nature of his goals. "I know that we prefer the beautiful ones on YouTube, but they are all very important and the ones we scored recently are very much the same," Arteta remarked, emphasizing substance over style.
Performance in Key Matches
Gyokeres' involvement in Arsenal's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea provided a mixed picture. While he was largely ineffective during his 69 minutes on the pitch, his replacement Kai Havertz scored the decisive stoppage-time goal that secured Arsenal's place in the final, highlighting the ongoing competition for attacking positions.
This situation creates an intriguing narrative as Arsenal continue their pursuit of silverware on multiple fronts. The apparent disconnect between Merson's observations, Gyokeres' statistical contributions, and Arteta's public support presents a complex picture of a player still finding his feet at a new club.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on whether Gyokeres can fully integrate into Arsenal's attacking patterns and win the complete confidence of his teammates, potentially proving Merson's observations premature rather than prophetic.
