Jamie Carragher said after Arsenal beat Aston Villa that Mikel Arteta has to change his Arsenal starting line-up over their next couple of Premier League matches
Viktor Gyokeres fired another blank as Arsenal beat Aston Villa
Viktor Gyokeres fired another blank as Arsenal beat Aston Villa(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres embraced Gabriel Jesus on the Emirates Stadium pitch after Arsenal's 4-1 victory over Aston Villa. It came as Jamie Carragher has called on Mikel Arteta to drop Gyokeres for Jesus in their upcoming matches.
All three forwards featured in a matchday squad for the first time in the Gunners' final game of the year. Gyokeres started the match, with Havertz and Jesus both named on the substitutes' bench.
The Sweden international once again failed to find the net, extending his barren run in open play, which stretches back to before his November hamstring setback, to eight matches. Jesus made an instant impact after being brought on by netting a spectacular strike which was his first Gunners goal for a year.
Havertz remained unused upon his return to the squad, but both he and Gyokeres approached their Brazilian colleague after the final whistle. The former was first to embrace Jesus before the Swede pulled him in for a hug, with Jesus then wrapping his arm around Gyokeres.
Moments after that heartwarming scene between the three attackers, Carragher urged Arteta to axe Gyokeres in favour of Jesus or even Havertz. The pundit made that case during Sky Sports' post-match analysis.
Carragher said: "I am a huge fan of Jesus, always have been. He's not always an amazing finisher, but he's a fantastic footballer.
"The one negative out of tonight for Arsenal is that Gyokeres should not be starting when they have players like this. 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. There have been questions in the past asking if [Jesus] is good enough for Arsenal to go and win the league, but right now he's better than the guy they brought in, who they thought was going to win them the league.
"Him 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 them on the bench. I think Arsenal need to improve on Gyokeres, and they've got players that can in Jesus."
Jamie Carragher speaking on Sky Sports
Jamie Carragher has said Gabriel Jesus is a better player than Viktor Gyokeres
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Arteta said after the game: "I'm very happy for [Jesus]. He's put in an incredible effort, and he's relentless; he wants more.
"He looks really, really, really happy. His emotional state is really high at the moment, and he needed that goal."
Arsenal legend Robert Pires, however, has thrown his support behind Gyokeres because the striker brings "something different" to his team. He told Flaschore: "Arsenal spent a lot of money on Viktor Gyokeres, and that was a key move.
"When you want to win the Premier League, you need a striker who can score goals consistently, but also one who helps the team in difficult moments."
Asked if Gyokeres was the final piece needed to win the title, Pires said: "Yes, because goals are crucial, but it's not only about scoring; he gives the team something different."
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