Much of the pre-match talk had been whether or not Arsenal should break the bank for Julian Alvarez - but Viktor Gyokeres gave Gunners chiefs food for thought
Viktor Gyokeres celebrates
Viktor Gyokeres celebrates(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
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Mikel Arteta had demanded a “statement performance” from Arsenal in their Champions League semi-final. Ultimately, the biggest statement came from Viktor Gyokeres, while the team probably have to finish the job to live up their manager’s expectations.
That was arguably Gyokeres’ best performance in an Arsenal shirt and to do it on that stage was really quite something.
There has to be an element - though he would never admit it - of trying to prove a point because all the pre-match talk had been about Julian Alvarez and how much he was worth, him being such a hot property and Arsenal wanting him.
That was Gyokeres’ answer. He was strong, powerful and he scored his 19th goal of the season. He is very good at penalties.
But his run in the first half to set up a chance for Martin Odegaard showed what he is about. Strong enough to hold off defenders, powerful and quick enough to burst through and then put over a low cross. It was great.
His hold-up play was good. He was in the mood. Fair play. After so much criticism and spotlight, the £64m striker really showed up.
Now if only he could do that on a regular basis. He does not have the pace, touch or mobility of Alvarez. There has been some revisionism lately about Gyokeres and why he was signed. Suddenly a bit of chat about him always being another option or a back-up.
Arsenal do not sign players for £64m to be second choice. The reality is that Gyokeres has come up short for much of the season and if they had signed a really top centre forward they would be 10 points clear in the title race.
It would be impossible to imagine Arsenal would sell two of their three strikers - Gyokeres, Kai Havertz or Gabriel Jesus - this summer to fund a move for Alvarez.
Alvarez, 26, is top drawer and he showed against Arsenal why he is so coveted. He was superb. He created everything. He made chances for himself, teammates and linked play brilliantly.
When he went off, Atletico faded away. That underlined his importance to the team. He will be the biggest threat to Arsenal in the return leg.
Mikel Arteta points the way forward to Declan Rice
Mikel Arteta points the way forward to Declan Rice(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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That is what Arsenal need as a striker. If they could blend the three they have - Jesus’ touch and control, Havertz’s link play and technique together with Gyokeres’ raw power - then they would have the perfect striker. But they can’t. That is why they probably need to buy again.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will only have made a statement if they beat Atletico next week and go through because that will prove they belong on the biggest stage.
Of course they are in back-to-back semi finals. But in football you need to prove you deserve to be there by actually progressing. It would be huge for Arsenal if they can get through.
They certainly did enough to win against Atletico. Apart from 20 minutes at the start of the second half, they were dominant.
Referee Danny Makkelie got it wrong. The first one was a penalty. The second one was a UEFA penalty because those handball decisions get given in Europe. Yes, we can all find clips and reasons. But the directive is clear. The third was an embarrassment.
If it takes 13 views then it is not clear enough to be overturned. To see a ref change his mind with the crowd screaming and the opposition manager shouting in his ear, looked to be a sign of weakness and incompetence. It was really poor.
That should give Arsenal even more incentive to finish the job.
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