Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has urged Arsenal to demote striker Viktor Gyokeres from the starting line-up despite a thumping 4-1 Premier League home win over Aston Villa on Tuesday (December 30).
The Gunners ran riot at the Emirates following a goalless first period. Gabriel Magalhaes capitalised on a defensive lapse to open the scoring three minutes into the second period before Martin Zubimendi doubled their advantage four minutes later.
Leandro Trossard ended the game as a contest 21 minutes from time, while subsitute Gabriel Jesus, replacing Gyokeres, joined the party nine minutes later. A clean sheet wasn't to be for the Gunners, though, as Ollie Watkins bagged a 94th-minute consolation for the Villans, who saw their 11-game winning streak snapped.
Despite the comprehensive victory, Gyokeres' struggles continued, as he's now scored just five times in 17 Premier League outings since his reported £55 million summer arrival. Carragher termed that the only 'negative' of the night.
“The one negative out of tonight for Arsenal, is that Gyokeres should not be starting, when they have players like this," the Englishman said (as per INDEPENDENT. "In a couple of games time, when Jesus is a bit more up to speed, he should be starting. He's a better player than Gyokeres - that's a fact.”
After the returning Jesus scored for the first time in over a year, Carragher termed him and Kai Havertz as better options up front than Gyokeres:
“Him (Jesus) or Havertz as the central striker is a better player than Gyokeres. He lacks finesse and quality when you think of what they've got on the bench. I think Arsenal need to improve on Gyokeres and they've got players that can in Jesus.”
The victory took the Gunners five minutes clear of second-placed Manchester City, who travel to Sunderland on New Year's Day.
"I thought we were outstandng" - Arsenal boss after Aston Villa win
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta was understandably a happy man after his team put up a five-star performance to down an in-form Villa side that had won their last 11 games, including a 2-1 victory over the Gunners earlier in the month.
Acknowledging the quality of Unai Emery's side, Arteta noted the dangers posed by the visitors before his team took control after the break, telling BBC Match of the Day:
"It was amazing. We knew we played against a team that won 11 games in a row in a great emotional state. They are a really fabulous team. They keep you on the edge in a reaction.
"And in the first half, in the first 10 minutes, we mistimed a few things, and they opened us up, and they are really dangerous there. After we had some more control, we came up in the second half, and I thought we were outstanding."
The Gunners return to action next on Saturday (January 3) with a trip to Bournemouth, who drew 2-2 at Chelsea on Tuesday.