Arsenal Advance Past Chelsea As Gyokeres Faces Trust Questions

Arsenal’s charge toward silverware continues to gather momentum, but the fallout from their Carabao Cup semi-final triumph over Chelsea has sparked fierce debate about trust, tactics, and what it takes to succeed at the highest level. The Emirates crowd witnessed a dramatic finish as Kai Havertz’s 97th-minute goal sealed a 4-2 aggregate win, booking Arsenal’s ticket to the final and leaving Chelsea to lick their wounds. Yet, the post-match narrative has been dominated less by the scoreline and more by the scrutiny of individual performances and managerial decisions.

Six months after his high-profile £64 million move from Sporting, Viktor Gyokeres remains a lightning rod for discussion among pundits and fans alike. The Swedish striker, brought in as Arsenal’s marquee summer signing to spearhead Mikel Arteta’s attack, has endured a mixed first half-season. Despite leading the club in Premier League goals with six—four from open play—Gyokeres has faced mounting pressure, especially with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz recently returning from long-term injuries.

Arsenal’s last Premier League outing before the cup semi-final saw them demolish Leeds United 4-0 at Elland Road, with Havertz thriving in a deeper role behind Gyokeres. That performance silenced some critics, but not all. Paul Merson, former Arsenal and England midfielder turned pundit, delivered a stinging assessment on The Overlap. “I watch Gyokeres. Next time you watch him… Arsenal don’t trust him, the players, they never pass to him,” Merson insisted. “They never pass to him! You watch him, next time he comes short they go, ‘No!’”

Merson’s observations didn’t stop there. He drew a stark contrast between Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus, claiming, “And then when Gabriel Jesus comes on they just keep on giving it to him all the time. It’s different.” According to Merson, the lack of trust from teammates is palpable and has contributed to calls for Gyokeres to be dropped, particularly after the winter reintegrations of Jesus and Havertz. Yet, the numbers tell a more nuanced story: Gyokeres has scored four times in his last seven appearances across all competitions, responding to the pressure with a timely uptick in form.

Still, the semi-final clash with Chelsea was far from a personal highlight for the Swede. Gyokeres was largely ineffective during his 69 minutes on the pitch, unable to break down a resolute Chelsea defense set up by manager Liam Rosenior. When Havertz replaced him for the final 20 minutes, it was the German’s late, decisive strike that sent the Emirates into raptures and consigned Chelsea to another season without a domestic cup final appearance.

In the aftermath, Mikel Arteta was quick to defend his striker, emphasizing Gyokeres’ growing consistency and the value he brings beyond just goals. “Yes, in his all-round play and performances, I would say,” Arteta told reporters. “He has been much more consistent in actions and consecutive actions especially. His defending input has been terrific from the beginning. But attacking-wise, understanding his movement, the timings of his runs, the presence and movement of the ball has been much better. He has been more prolific certainly, in front of goal to help us to win more games.”

Arteta dismissed concerns about the style of Gyokeres’ goals, stating, “I mean, he has the ability to do that, but goals are 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.” For Arteta, the ends justify the means, especially as Arsenal chase their first major trophy under his stewardship.

On the opposite bench, Liam Rosenior faced a different kind of scrutiny. The Chelsea manager, appointed just eight matches ago, opted for a pragmatic five-at-the-back system designed to frustrate Arsenal and strike on the counter. With several key absences and a one-goal deficit from the first leg, Rosenior’s plan was clear: survive the first half, then take calculated risks in the latter stages.

For much of the match, the strategy appeared sound. Chelsea held Arsenal scoreless at halftime and, after an hour, introduced attacking talents Cole Palmer and Estevao Willian in search of a breakthrough. Despite registering 14 shots and an expected goals (xG) tally of 0.68, Chelsea rarely threatened Kepa Arrizabalaga’s goal. The Blues’ inability to create clear-cut chances left the impression of a team outmatched by Arsenal’s defensive solidity.

Paul Merson, never one to mince words, was scathing in his post-match analysis of Chelsea. “I’m numb, I’m stunned. I can’t believe what I’ve just seen. I really can’t believe it,” he said, as cameras lingered on a dejected Wesley Fofana. “This is Chelsea Football Club. They have international footballers, a world champion, top-level players all over the pitch… This isn’t a team fighting relegation. They came here and… they should be crying, because they didn’t even try.”

Merson continued, “They played at half throttle. This was a cup semifinal. Chelsea has players to compete toe-to-toe with Arsenal, and still, they didn’t even try.” His comments ignited a debate about whether Chelsea’s approach was defeatist or simply pragmatic given the circumstances.

Rosenior, for his part, stood firmly by his tactical choices in the post-match press conference. “I’ve been a pundit, I know it’s easy to have an opinion,” he responded. “Everything is simple in hindsight. If I go out pressing high from the start and we concede two early goals, then everyone would say: ‘What is he doing?’ That’s the reality of my job. The reality is that if you lose, you get criticized; if you win, you’re a genius. Usually, the truth is somewhere in between.”

Despite the disappointment, Chelsea fans showed their appreciation with a round of applause for Rosenior and his players at the final whistle. The manager, who has won six of his first eight games in charge, acknowledged the emotional toll on his squad. “You could see how devastated the lads were after the match for everything they gave. We believed we could come here and turn the tie around.”

He added, “In terms of control and dominance in the second half, there were moments where I felt the match was within our grasp, but we didn’t know how to capitalize on it. I also felt the psychological component of the tie was key, and it was palpable in the stadium. At the 60th minute, Cole and Estevao came on; the match opened up, and we had situations in and around the box. There was a feeling the tie could change. We didn’t achieve what we wanted, but in the end, it’s not about match plans, it’s about results.”

With Arsenal now eyeing another shot at silverware, the questions about Gyokeres’ integration and Chelsea’s tactical identity will linger. But for now, the Gunners’ faithful can savor a night of triumph, while Chelsea’s supporters look for hope in a new managerial era that promises both ambition and hard lessons learned.