Gary Lineker says Arsenal are ‘a bit short up top’ and would profit from Viktor Gyokeres coming out of the team for the Champions League knockout game against Bayer Leverkusen.
Arsenal’s hopes of winning a primary Champions League title are on the road on Tuesday night as they face Leverkusen within the second leg of their last-16 tie.
The Gunners were removed from at their best in the primary leg in Germany and needed a late Kai Havertz penalty to take a 1-1 flinch to the Emirates Stadium.
Gyokeres began the primary leg after improving his goalscoring record for the reason that turn of the yr but was subbed off and replaced by Havertz after struggling to make an impact.
The 2 Arsenal forwards then traded places for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Everton, with Havertz starting before being replaced by Gyokeres, who got here off the bench to interrupt the deadlock.
Lineker still ‘prefers’ Havertz leading the road for Arsenal, nevertheless, and believes the German should start ahead of Gyokeres within the Champions League.
‘I have a look at Arsenal and it’s hard to be too critical because they’ve done so well this season,’ the previous England striker said on The Rest is Football podcast.
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‘But I still think they’re a bit short up top. I prefer Kai Havertz up there, personally, if he can get and stay fit. He’s more of a false nine but he gives them a bit more I believe.
‘It’s one to observe but Arsenal are going higher than everybody else immediately, they’re in a superb position by way of being in all 4 competitions.’
While Arsenal warmed up for Bayer Leverkusen with an important win over Everton, the Bundesliga side help Bayern Munich to a 1-1 draw last outing.
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Asked what he expects from Leverkusen in north London, Arteta said: ‘Watching them play against Bayern Munich on the weekend, very similar.
‘Very well coached, clear structure. We all know what we’ve to do in front of our crowd. Hopefully we’re going to do it.
‘Lots of aspects will contribute for us to be within the quarter-finals. We’d like to have every element in our favour to realize that.
‘They’ve a variety of quality individually in a variety of areas of the pitch, and as every team they’ve their strengths, their weaknesses, and we’ll try to focus on them.’
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