Jamie Carragher explains why Viktor Gyokeres could be DROPPED for Arsenal's biggest games

Jamie Carragher believes that Mikel Arteta would have dropped Viktor Gyokeres to the bench on Sunday had Kai Havertz been fit. Arsenal head to Anfield to face Liverpool in an early test of their Premier League title credentials without Havertz.

The Germany international has undergone surgery on a knee injury, and while he isn’t expected to be sidelined for a significant period, he will be a big miss on Sunday. Gyokeres will shoulder a lot of Arsenal expectation, with Bukayo Saka also missing the trip through injury and Martin Odegaard a doubt due to a shoulder problem.

Gyokeres joined Arsenal in a deal worth £63.7million this summer after plundering 54 goals in 52 games for Sporting Lisbon last season. He got off the mark for the Gunners by scoring twice in a 5-0 thrashing of Leeds last weekend, but Carragher is far from convinced by the 27-year-old centre-forward.

Speaking after Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester United on the opening weekend of the season, Carragher stated his opinion that Arteta will bench Gyokeres for the biggest games. He believes that Havertz’s versatility and experience of the Arsenal system is more important to the Arsenal boss than what Gyokeres offers – and has doubled down on his take.

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“That is why my suspicion is Kai Havertz would have started ahead of Gyokeres on Sunday but for injury,” he wrote for The Telegraph. “As the season progresses, it is hard to imagine a fully fit Havertz being relegated to a deputy for the biggest Premier League and Champions League games.

“Gyokeres has the look of a useful alternative – a different profile of striker offering a solution against the less fashionable teams as and when required – not an out-and-out replacement for the German.”

Gary Neville disagrees with Carragher and has suggested an alternative that Arteta may try later this season. "Arsenal needed a centre forward and brought one in, I saw glimpses that made me think he'll be a handful," Neville said on Sky Sports. "[Gabriel] Martinelli looks like he's struggling, maybe getting Gyokeres and Havertz in together is something he has to try."

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Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit is another to express concerns over Gyokeres though. He told AS : "New signings like Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi still have to adapt to Arteta’s style. Gyokeres, for example, prefers to run into space behind defenders, while Arsenal tend to rely on possession.

"Perhaps they need to get back to the fast-paced, counter-attacking style they practiced two years ago to get the most out of it. Both he and the team need to meet halfway.

"Too often, wingers drop deep, leaving the pitch empty, making it difficult for Gyokeres to find space. So he, alone, isn’t the solution. If Arsenal quickly find the balance between his qualities and his style of play, they’ll be in contention."

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