Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville were involved in a heated on-air argument on Monday Night Football as they clashed over Mikel Arteta's use of Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres
11:04, 19 Aug 2025
Viktor Gyokeres points on the pitch
Viktor Gyokeres had a low-key debut for Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher has made the bold claim that Mikel Arteta won't be fielding new recruit Viktor Gyokeres in Arsenal's biggest clashes this season.
The ex-Liverpool defender's assertion left fellow pundit Gary Neville taken aback, as he held a completely different view. Gyokeres was in the starting line-up for Arsenal's season opener against Manchester United, but was subbed off after an hour after a sub-par performance that was judged as "clumsy".
The Swedish international found it tough to make his mark in the game and didn't manage a single shot during his stint on the pitch, even though Arsenal clinched victory at Old Trafford thanks to a howler from United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.
Reflecting on the formidable record Arteta's squad has racked up against their big-name rivals - Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham - Carragher hinted that Gyokeres might not get a look-in against such teams, given Arsenal's 22-match unbeaten run against them, reports the Mirror.
Carragher is confident that Gyokeres will have no trouble finding the back of the net throughout the season, but feels Kai Havertz is too crucial to bench.
"If I'm being honest, I think they go back to Havertz in the biggest games, I think that will be the case," Carragher said on Sky Sports. "I can see Gyokeres playing and scoring goals."
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Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher sit on a couch
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher clashed over Viktor Gyokeres(Image: Sky Sports)
Neville countered: "He can't leave Gyokeres out of big games". But Carragher stood his ground, adding: "He can. I think Havertz is too important a player for Mikel Arteta to be left out. I don't see that happening at all."
Neville suggested that the two stars could be a formidable duo on the pitch. "Arsenal needed a centre forward and brought one in, I saw glimpses that made me think he'll be a handful," he said.
"[Gabriel] Martinelli looks like he's struggling, maybe getting Gyokeres and Havertz in together is something he has to try."
Gyokeres runs on the pitch
Carragher doesn't believe that Gyokeres will feature in Arsenal's biggest games this season(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
Following Arsenal's victory over United, Arteta conceded there was still work to be done to fully integrate Gyokeres into his squad but was pleased with his initial performance. "Well, he did a lot of things very good," the Spaniard said.
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"You can tell, especially in our high-pressing rhythm that we demand that, especially in the first hour. Again, he took too much time. It's something that we have to work on him, especially there.
"And then, yeah, finalising situation, he didn't have that many chances to do that because, as I said, on the previous action, before we had to play that last ball that the line was standing still with 40 metres behind.
"We then managed to put the ball through to exploit his quality. But overall, I mean, coming away to Manchester United, winning your first game with Arsenal, it's a good start."