Arsenal frontman Viktor Gyokeres fired another blank as the Gunners drew at Nottingham Forest with Micah Richards suggesting the striker needs time out of the team
Viktor Gyokeres' form continues to be in the spotlight
Viktor Gyokeres' form continues to be in the spotlight(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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Micah Richards has claimed that Viktor Gyokeres would benefit from time out of the Arsenal team after the striker fired another blank at the weekend.
The Gunners were held by Nottingham Forest, which meant they missed out on the chance to go nine points clear at the top, with their Swedish frontman again in the spotlight as his struggles in front of goal continue.
Signed from Sporting Lisbon for £64million off the back of 97 goals in two seasons, Gyokeres has been unable to replicate that form in England. Thus far he's only found the net five times in the Premier League and Richards believes he's stopped doing the things that helped him excel in Portugal.
With Gabriel Jesus again fit the pundit has suggested that a stint out of the starting XI "might be the best thing for the team" ahead of their clash with Manchester United.
Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast: "I think they need to play Gabriel Jesus now. Mikel Arteta has stuck with Gyokeres – I’m not sure if he’s struggling with confidence or struggling to adapt to a new league, I know he’s played in the Championship but the Premier League is a different beast.
"All of the clips I watched of Gyokeres last season, I remember saying that Arsenal fans shouldn’t expect him to be a world-beater but what he did have was that aggressive run in behind. But he’s not doing the same thing now and that worries me. Maybe he needs a couple of games out of the team and to get his confidence back before coming back in.
"There was a moment against Forest where he should have gone through but as a defender you think you can get back because he’s lacking confidence and his touch isn’t going to be right. Even if he went through you’re not fancying him to score at the minute."
Gabriel Jesus has returned from injury
Gabriel Jesus has returned from injury(Image: 2025 The Arsenal Football Club Plc)
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Arteta continues to be quizzed on the form of Gyokeres, who has not hit the ground running as the club would've liked but did score last week at Chelsea, and the Spaniard admits he wants more from his attacking players. But stopped short of putting all of the blame on the 27-year-old.
He said: "Obviously we want the players to be decisive at this level because we need them to score goals and create moments where we can unlock the door and get an opening which changes the game normally, and we haven't managed to take that and that's everybody's responsibility."
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