Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres Faces Scrutiny Amid Cup Triumph

It’s been a whirlwind few months in North London, and nowhere is that more evident than at Arsenal, where the saga of Viktor Gyokeres continues to spark debate among pundits, fans, and even the Gunners’ own squad. As of February 5, 2026, the Swedish striker finds himself at the heart of the conversation—not just for his performances, but for the very nature of his integration into Mikel Arteta’s ambitious side.

Gyokeres, signed from Sporting six months ago for a hefty £64 million, was intended to be the missing piece in Arsenal’s push for silverware. The club’s hierarchy and Arteta himself made it clear: an out-and-out centre-forward was their top priority for the summer window. With his physicality, work rate, and a proven eye for goal in Portugal, Gyokeres seemed the perfect fit. But football, as ever, is rarely so straightforward.

Despite being Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League this season with six goals—four from open play—the 27-year-old has faced a barrage of scrutiny. Some of that comes from the stands, but much of it has been amplified by high-profile voices in the media. Chief among them is Paul Merson, the former Arsenal, Aston Villa, and England midfielder, who recently claimed, “Arsenal don’t trust him, the players, they never pass to him.” Speaking on The Overlap, Merson doubled down: “They never pass to him! You watch him, next time he comes short they go, ‘No!’”

It’s a damning assessment, and Merson didn’t stop there. He drew a sharp contrast with Gabriel Jesus, noting, “And then when Gabriel Jesus comes on they just keep on giving it to him all the time. It’s different.” According to Merson, Gyokeres appears to accept this treatment, but the implication is clear: the striker has yet to fully win over his new teammates, even as he leads the line.

Gyokeres’s journey hasn’t been made any easier by the return of both Jesus and Kai Havertz from long-term injuries over the winter. Their availability has given Arteta more options up front and increased the pressure on the Swede to deliver. Yet, to his credit, Gyokeres has responded well, netting four times in his last seven appearances across all competitions. That kind of form is hard to ignore, and it’s forced Arteta to keep faith with his big-money forward even as calls for his benching have grown louder.

The most recent evidence of Arsenal’s attacking prowess came in their emphatic 4-0 victory over Leeds United at Elland Road, with Havertz playing just behind Gyokeres. The system clicked, and the Gunners looked every inch the title contenders they aspire to be. But as always, the spotlight quickly shifted to the next big test: the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea.

In that match, Gyokeres was handed a starting role but struggled to make a decisive impact during his 69 minutes on the pitch. Arteta opted to bring on Havertz for the final 20 minutes, a move that paid off handsomely when the German struck in stoppage time to seal Arsenal’s place in the final. The Emirates crowd erupted, and while Gyokeres’s contribution was less tangible, Arteta wasn’t shy about offering praise for his striker.

“Yes, in his all-round play and performances, I would say,” Arteta told reporters when asked about Gyokeres’s recent form. “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 also brushed aside concerns about the types of goals Gyokeres scores. “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.”

While Arsenal fans may debate the aesthetics, there’s no denying the importance of Gyokeres’s contributions during a critical stretch of the campaign. Yet, the story of the Carabao Cup semi-final was as much about Chelsea’s approach as it was about Arsenal’s eventual triumph. Under new manager Liam Rosenior, the Blues arrived at the Emirates with a pragmatic plan: a five-at-the-back system designed to frustrate and contain their high-flying opponents.

Gary Neville, serving as co-commentator for the broadcast, praised Rosenior’s tactical discipline, likening it to a “near-masterpiece in the purest Jose Mourinho style.” Chelsea, hampered by key absences, set up with clear defensive intent, hoping to strike on the counter or through a moment of individual brilliance. For much of the match, the plan seemed to work—at halftime, it was still goalless, and the Blues remained very much in the tie.

But as the second half wore on, Rosenior made a series of pre-planned substitutions, bringing on Cole Palmer and Estevao Willian to inject attacking impetus. Despite 14 shots and an xG of 0.68, Chelsea couldn’t break through. Arsenal’s defense, anchored by the ever-reliable Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, held firm. When Havertz finally broke the deadlock in the dying moments, Chelsea’s resistance crumbled, and Rosenior’s gamble was left unrewarded.

Paul Merson, never one to mince words, was scathing in his assessment of Chelsea’s performance: “I’m numb, I’m stunned. I can’t believe what I’ve just seen. I really can’t believe it. 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.” He 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.”

Rosenior, for his part, defended his approach in the post-match press conference, emphasizing the difficulty of facing Arsenal away: “I’ve been a pundit, I know it’s easy to have an opinion. 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.” He added, “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 applauded Rosenior and his players at the final whistle, a sign that the manager’s honesty and tactical bravery had not gone unnoticed. With six wins in his first eight matches at the helm, Rosenior has earned the right to try something different—even if it didn’t work out this time.

As Arsenal look ahead to the Carabao Cup final and continue their pursuit of Premier League glory, the debate around Gyokeres’s role and Chelsea’s tactical evolution will rage on. One thing’s certain: in North London, the drama is never in short supply.