Troy Deeney has weighed in on Arsenal’s striker situation, backing Kai Havertz to secure more starts than Viktor Gyokeres this season. Following the Gunners’ hard-fought 1-0 victory at Old Trafford—an outcome as refreshing for Arsenal fans as a cold pint on a hot summer day—Deeney wasn’t impressed with Gyokeres’ debut performance.
Gyokeres Struggles on Debut
Gyokeres, who recently joined Arsenal from Sporting Lisbon after an impressive scoring spree in Portugal, appeared a bit rusty during his 60-minute debut. The former Coventry striker failed to register a shot or create any chances before being substituted for Havertz just after the hour mark.
While it’s still early in the season, and players often require time to find their match sharpness, Deeney believes Mikel Arteta will ultimately favor Havertz in the long run.
Deeney’s Take on Gyokeres
Speaking on the radio, Deeney didn’t hold back:
> “Gyokeres, for me, isn’t the answer. I know he’s only one game in, and people will say he’s rusty, but if you look at his movement, the way he was running… There was an incident when he went through and stood on the ball. I think you are going to see Havertz start more games than Gyokeres over the course of the season.”
Deeney’s analysis wasn’t isolated. Arsenal’s overall performance came under scrutiny despite the victory, with him noting:
> “It would be hard-pressed for any Arsenal fan to say they were the better team. I just think Arsenal were what you expected. Big, strong, organized. Still a bit rusty in terms of that fluidity in the midfield.”
Pardew’s Critique
Alan Pardew also weighed in, describing Gyokeres’ performance as “poor” and justifying his substitution at the 60-minute mark:
> “He looked not quite at it, whether he was nervous or whatever… it didn’t look what I was expecting because I’m a big fan of his.”
Arteta Defends Gyokeres
Mikel Arteta was quick to defend his new signing, suggesting that the lack of service from teammates played a role. He highlighted several missed opportunities:
> “I think there are seven, eight situations when the ball is completely open to play through and we are in and attacking the keeper. We give the ball away, and then it becomes a basketball game.”
When discussing Gyokeres, Arteta acknowledged areas for improvement but also pointed out the positives:
> “Well, he did a lot of things very well. You can tell especially in our high press and rhythm that we demand. In the first half, we were giving a bit too much time. It is something that we have to work on him, especially there.”
What’s Next for Arsenal?
Next up for the Gunners is a home fixture against Leeds. The big question remains: Will Gyokeres get another chance to lead the line, or will Havertz take the reins? Regardless, starting the season with three points at Old Trafford is like discovering a fiver in your winter coat—not life-changing, but a delightful little bonus to kick off the campaign!