Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has sparked debate by claiming Arsenal should rethink their striker selection, arguing that Viktor Gyokeres should be dropped in favour of Gabriel Jesus or Kai Havertz. Speaking after Arsenal’s emphatic 4–1 victory over Aston Villa, Carragher insisted that both alternatives offer more quality and suit the team better than the club’s summer signing.
Gyokeres arrived at the Emirates in a £55 million move, with expectations that he could provide the cutting edge needed to push Arsenal toward a title challenge. However, the Swedish forward has struggled to fully adapt to Premier League football, managing only five goals in 17 league appearances. Despite being central to Arsenal’s attacking setup, his performances have yet to consistently justify his price tag or reputation.
That struggle was evident again against Aston Villa, where Gyokeres failed to make a significant impact despite Arsenal’s overall dominance. His night was compounded when Gabriel Jesus replaced him late in the match and delivered a moment of real quality, curling a superb strike into the far corner to cap off the win. The contrast between the two players only strengthened Carragher’s view.
Analyzing the match, Carragher openly praised Jesus, describing himself as a long-time admirer of the Brazilian forward. He argued that once Jesus regains full sharpness following his return from a long injury layoff, he should reclaim a starting role. Carragher also included Kai Havertz in his assessment, stating that either player currently offers more technical ability and attacking intelligence than Gyokeres.
While Gyokeres was signed to lead the line after an encouraging spell at Sporting, Carragher believes Arsenal already possess better internal options. He questioned whether the Swede has the finesse required at the highest level, especially when compared to the players available on the bench. In Carragher’s view, if Arsenal are serious about winning the league, Jesus or Havertz should be trusted to spearhead the attack while Gyokeres reassesses his role in the squad.
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