Gary Neville was disappointed by Viktor Gjokeres’ “really poor” performance against Liverpool and accused the Arsenal striker of not contributing enough to the goalless draw.
Giokeres’ frustrating start to life at Arsenal continued at the Emirates Stadium as he failed to register a shot against Arne Slott’s side and made it 10 games without a goal in the open.
The Sweden international scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for previous club Sporting, but his tally for Arsenal stands at just seven in 24 games following his £55million arrival in July.
Giokeres was a peripheral figure on Thursday night, only touching the ball eight times before his 64th-minute withdrawal for Gabriel Jesus, and Neville was not surprised to see his tally.
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool
“It’s not a surprise,” he said on co-comment.
“He was ineffective, and that was kind of him. A really bad night from him, he didn’t offer anything.
“Look, there’s no getting serve, and then he gets into the game and does more. He had to do more.”
Giokeres’ total of eight touches was his fewest in a game started this season and Neville questioned his movement after Arsenal failed to capitalize on a flurry of crosses in the first half.
Victor Gjokeres had just eight shots against Liverpool
Speaking further The Gary Neville Podcast after the game he said: “I just thought, come on, be more of a ram.”
“We are used to the fact that occasionally the centre-forwards don’t get involved as much in the game and don’t contribute as much in the general game.
“But what they have to be in the right position in the box. They have to rush over the goalkeeper, over the near post.”
“They’ve got to make sure they get in and slide into the box when that ball is fired over. And he didn’t do that. That’s the part I’m disappointed with him.
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“If you don’t do that, then you have to do the other part, which is the ugly part of pressing and harassing and holding the ball.
But I don’t think he contributed anything to tonight’s game as Arsenal’s centre-forward.
Gjokeres wasn’t the only Arsenal striker to struggle in the game, as Mikel Arteta’s side struggled to break down the visitors, who lacked their edge without Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah or Alexander Isak.
“Arsenal had seven players on the pitch tonight who couldn’t unlock Liverpool’s defense and that’s a credit to Liverpool’s defence,” said Neville.
Victor Gjokeres gave way to Gabriel Jesus in the 64th minute
“But I would expect, at some point in the game, one of (Leandro) Trossard, Giokeres, (Bukaio) Saka, (Martin) Odegaard, (Eberechi) Eze, (Noni) Madueke, (Gabriel) Martinelli to produce that bit of magic.
“They had a lot more options than Liverpool up front. But in the second half, Liverpool controlled the ball brilliantly and the chances Arsenal had, to be honest, weren’t that great.”
“So it was a challenging night for Arsenal. My feeling was, to go eight points ahead, to go and grab this title by a hair’s breadth, but they are still in a great position, they just didn’t quite make it.”
Is Giokeres running out of patience?
Analysis from Sky Sports’ Nick Wright at the Emirates Stadium:
This wasn’t a game where either attacking player performed particularly well, but Giokeres’ continued struggles, both as a goalscorer and as a game in general, remains a source of concern for Arsenal.
It was the fourth time he had failed to register a shot in a Premier League game he had started. It came after he mustered just one against Bournemouth. His average of 2.15 per 90 minutes puts him below Everton’s Beto, Leeds’ Lucas Nmeche and West Ham’s Callum Wilson, far from the top of the rankings.
Viktor Gjokeres struggled against Liverpool on Thursday night
While a growing number of fans are losing patience, others are taking matters into their own hands. His role in Declan Rice’s first goal against Bournemouth, when he occupied a crowd of defenders, was used as an example of what he brings to the side in addition to goals.
But the late arrivals in the box Neville mentioned had become a familiar sight. Part of a striker’s role is to sniff out chances for himself and, without the space and physical advantages he had against weaker teams in Portugal, Giokeres is seen as lacking.
Arteta has backed him to be good ahead of the Liverpool game. But his record is getting harder to defend. With Kai Havertz nearing fitness, it seems inevitable that the player signed to lead Arsenal’s title charge will lose his place.