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Gary Neville has called out an Arsenal player after Thursday night’s stalemate with Liverpool.
Gary Neville called out an Arsenal player during their goalless draw with Liverpool Thursday night at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners and Reds drew a blank after what was an a rather drab affair, with Conor Bradley having the best opportunity, hitting the bar with a neat chip following a mix-up at the back from Arsenal.
Other than that, it was a rather scrappy affair, and neither side can have too many complaints with the draw. Thanks to Manchester City’s draw on Wednesday, Arsenal lost no ground in the title race, while Liverpool move two points ahead of in-form Brentford in fifth.
Given how busy their schedule has been, Arsenal won’t too much sleep over the draw, but they will take a close look at where they can find more cutting edge given how well Liverpool restricted them on home turf.
One player Arsenal do need to get more from is striker Viktor Gyokeres, who was signed to bring regular goals, but he has not. Gyokeres has scored only five times in the Premier League, and while he has been defended by Mikel Arteta and his teammates for his work off the ball, there is no hiding that the Sweden international has not done what he was signed to do.
That’s something Neville touched on in the Sky Sports coverage of the Liverpool draw. “Not a surprise,” Neville began when he was asked about the striker’s lack of impact.
“Gyokeres has been ineffective - and that's being kind. It's been a really poor night, offering nothing. He has to do more."
Gyokeres was brought off after 64 minutes, failing to get into the game.
Gyokeres defence
Gyokeres has been defended in recent weeks, even with his lack of goals. Declan Rice said a couple of weeks ago: “It's tough for him, because he's got two defenders on him all game, all over him.
"So he has to use his strength, he has to do all he can to help the team and with my first goal, without him making that run from Gabriel Martinelli's flick and holding it, setting it off to Martin [Odegaard], that goal wouldn't happen.”
Arteta also defended Gyokeres in mid-December, saying: “It's a collaboration between the two (With Gabriel Jesus). He was in a lot of really good positions and the ball didn't get into the area quick enough, sharp enough or just with the precision that is required for a No.9 to score the goal. But his work rate and intentions were there and we need to keep insisting."
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