Viktor Gyokeres was on target for Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea
Abbie Meehan Sports Writer U-35s
11:10, 15 Jan 2026
Viktor Gyoekeres of Arsenal looks on as he warms up prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on December 30, 2025 in London, England.
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Viktor Gyokeres has hit back at his critics in the best way(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Viktor Gyokeres' strike against Chelsea on Wednesday evening provided the ideal response to Gary Neville's recent criticism. The Swedish striker played a crucial role in Arsenal's victory over their city rivals in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, with Ben White and Martin Zubimendi also on target in a 3-2 win.
But Gyokeres' form since his summer switch hasn't been great. He has scored just eight times across all competitions, with his most recent goal before Wednesday coming in December's 1-0 victory against Everton.
Those difficulties prompted criticism from ex-Manchester United full-back Neville, who questioned whether the striker was doing enough. Following a goalless Premier League encounter with Liverpool, where the 27-year-old was withdrawn for Gabriel Jesus after roughly 60 minutes, Neville didn't hold back.
He said: "Not a surprise, that. He's been ineffective, and that's being kind. It's a really poor night from him; he offered nothing. Look, there's not getting service, and then there's getting involved in the game and doing more; he needed to do more."
The pundit expanded on his assessment of Gyokeres during The Gary Neville Podcast as he said: "I just thought, come on, be more of a battering ram. We've become used to, at times, centre-forwards not getting involved in the game as much and not contributing as much in general play. But what they have to be is in the right position in the box.
Martin Odegaard of Arsenal pushes teammate Viktor Gyokeres to celebrate after scoring his team's second goal during the Carabao Cup Semi Final First Leg match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on January 14, 2026 in London, England.
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Gyokeres returned to the scoresheet on Wednesday night(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
"They have to be making runs across the goalkeeper, across the near post. They have to make sure that they're charging in and sliding in the six-yard box when that ball gets fired across.
"And he didn't do that bit. That's the bit I'm disappointed with him in.
"If you're not doing that, you've got to then do the other bit, which is the ugly bit of pressing and harassing and holding the ball up. But I don't think he contributed anything, really, to the game tonight as a centre-forward for Arsenal."
Gyokeres' strike on Wednesday served as an emphatic answer to the former United player's critique.
Following his move to the Premier League, a former teammate backed him to succeed and credited the striker's competitiveness in training as the defining factor that elevates him above others.
Ben Sheaf, a former Arsenal academy product now starring for Wrexham, played alongside Gyokeres during their time at Coventry City and told The Athletic about the striker's attitude towards training.
He said: "When he came [on loan from Brighton], he was in and out of the team and showed glimpses of quality. He signed permanently after the first loan, and he came back having put more muscle on and was even more physical.
Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal during a training session at Sobha Realty Training Centre on December 05, 2025 in London Colney, England.
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The Swede is known to train extremely hard(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
"He was relentless with how much he practised. He'd do a lot of finishing drills after training. I remember once in training, we did 11-v-11, and the ball got thrown into him when I was playing against him.
"He pinned and rolled me, and I just couldn't do anything about it. That was the first time I remember thinking, 'Blimey, this is what opposition teams are going to feel.' That was the first time I felt his physicality."
Sheaf added: "He was always ultra-competitive in training," and "He'd throw his toys out of the pram if we didn't win a small-sided game.
"He's a serious guy until you get to know him and he opens up. He's a good lad but he'd be arguing in training, always wanting to win and doing finishing drills after - absolutely t**ting balls in."
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