Arteta Under Pressure to Bench Gyokeres After Subdued Chelsea Display

Arsenal have secured their place in the League Cup final at Wembley following Tuesday night's semi-final second leg against Chelsea, with Kai Havertz's 47th-minute strike sealing a 4-2 aggregate triumph. The German's goal capped off a convincing display that built upon their 3-2 first-leg victory at Stamford Bridge in January.

Yet for all the positives surrounding the Gunners' progression, one player has drawn considerable scrutiny from the punditry ranks: Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal's leading scorer across all competitions this season, started his 25th match but delivered a display that left plenty wanting.

Three ESPN analysts were particularly scathing in their assessment of the Swedish forward's contribution. Liverpool legend Steve Nicol suggested that Gyokeres has now exhausted the patience Arteta afforded him. "He's been given six months to separate himself from Jesus, Havertz and Merino," Nicol explained, adding that the striker has failed to establish himself as the standout option. "He might actually be at the bottom of the pile right now," the former Red concluded.

Former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson echoed these concerns, pointing to the stark statistics of Gyokeres' involvement. The forward managed just a single touch in the opening half-hour, a telling indicator of either poor movement or a reluctance from teammates to feed him early. Robson suggested Gabriel Jesus might reclaim the starting berth if fit for the upcoming clash with Sunderland, noting that Jesus "looks sharp and hungry" having recently found the net.

Comparisons to Chelsea's Joao Pedro were unfavourable to Gyokeres, with Robson highlighting how the Blues' man better executed the hold-up play expected of a modern centre-forward. The midfielder also referenced previous doubts over Havertz's suitability in the position, raising the possibility of a tactical reshuffle should Gyokeres' form not improve.

Alejandro Moreno, a three-time MLS Cup winner, was particularly damning about the numbers. Playing 69 minutes, Gyokeres managed just ten touches and completed only one pass—statistics Moreno described as "embarrassing." The analyst suggested that a lack of movement and runs from the Swedish international has become problematic, warning that such passivity is precisely what a centre-forward must avoid.