Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink questioned Viktor Gyokeres’ response to Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg win over Chelsea.
Gyokeres’ first goal in five games helped Premier League leaders Arsenal beat London rivals Chelsea 3-2 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Ben White and Martin Zubimendi were also on course as Mikel Arteta’s side took an enormous step towards reaching the Carabao Cup final.
Gyokeres and White were on media duty after Arsenal’s victory and Hasselbaink was surprised by their subdued mood.
Sky Sports host Mark Chapman felt the pair showed the Arsenal squad was barely ‘disillusioned’ with the result after twice leading by two goals.
Arsenal summer signing Gyokeres said: ‘I feel it was a troublesome game. We defended well.
‘They were, as at all times, dangerous once they have counter-attacks, but I feel we defended well. Unlucky to have conceded two but offensively we scored three, so blissful with that.
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‘It’s still a second leg but in fact it’s good to return away with a win and advantage for the second leg, but we still need to do a superb performance within the second match.’
On scoring for under the second time because the start of November, ex-Sporting striker Gyokeres added: ‘That’s what I want to do and I can do it more often. We won today and we keep going.’
White, meanwhile, felt Arsenal’s second-half performance was ‘lower than our standards’ and described it as ‘a bit disappointing’.
‘We didn’t play thoroughly within the second half and allow them to give us more pressure,’ the defender said.
‘That’s how we conceded the goals. Less than our standards really. It’s a bit disappointing, the second half, but a win.’
Hasselbaink agreed that Arsenal could have taken a good larger advantage back to the Emirates Stadium but urged the Gunners squad to ‘enjoy this moment’ after sealing a win over their London rivals.
‘I might have loved to have seen him slightly bit happier,’ Hasselbaink said of Gyokeres on Sky Sports.
‘Yes, they may have done so a lot better and that’s what they expect. But on the opposite hand you’re at Chelsea, you’re at Stamford Bridge, it’s not a simple place to return.
‘You will have won and also you have scored… you may not think you’ve done enough and wish to do it more but you’ll want to enjoy this moment.’
Recent Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior won his first game in control of the club, a FA Cup clash against Championship strugglers Charlton, but lost his first home fixture since replacing Enzo Maresca.
‘It’s half-time [in the tie],’ he said. ‘I used to be very blissful with the engagement, the commitment of the players. They gave all the things.
‘It was every open game. Disenchanted to concede from a corner. Disenchanted with the third goal as well because we were right back in the sport and we were on top at that moment.
‘We switched off from a restart from a central free kick but I can’t fault the players.
‘We’ve had illness within the squad, we’ve picked up a number of knocks this week but what the squad has shown that they’re willing to run and fight for one another.’
Arsenal boss Arteta, meanwhile, said: ‘We played against a extremely good side at a extremely difficult place. I’m very happy with what the team has done.
‘You wish to begin to play semi-finals and all of the work you’ve done throughout the season to get to those stages to deliver on the day and we’ve definitely done that.
‘What we’re doing every three days is impressive.’
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