Paul Merson has urged Mikel Arteta to recall Viktor Gyokeres to his starting XI for next week’s Champions League showdown with Atletico Madrid.
The Sweden international has scored 18 goals in his first season on the club after his arrival from Sporting CP last summer but was dropped to the bench for his side’s biggest game of the season against Manchester City last week.
With the Gunners in desperate need of a victory against Newcastle United on Saturday, Gyokeres was named among the many substitutes again with Havertz given the nod up front, just as he was last week on the Etihad.
Havertz’s evening was delivered to an end after 33 minutes nevertheless, suffering what seemed to be a groin injury. Mikel Arteta was hopeful it was not a serious issue when he spoke at full-time but club legend Ian Wright was left fearing the worst over the injury.
Arsenal head to Spain for the primary leg of their semi-final clash with Atletico on Wednesday with Havertz now a serious doubt.
While Gabriel Jesus is on the market with Mikel Merino also hoping to return soon, Merson believes the midweek game on the Wanda Metropolitano is a great game for Gyokeres.
‘He [Gyokeres] will still play an enormous part in it [Arsenal’s title run-in],’ Merson told Sky Sports.
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‘For me, he plays in Europe on Wednesday night because he’ll hold the ball up. Arsenal will probably be under pressure and it’ll be a difficult game for them in Madrid.
‘That’s while you need Gyokeres to get you a throw in down the touchline, he runs after lost causes.
‘The largest time the entire crowed lifted today was when he cleared the ball from a corner and chased it down there and won it back and it lifted everybody.’
Havertz will probably be assessed in the approaching days with Wright fearing he could also be out for a ‘lengthy’ period.
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‘I’m quite concerned while you consider he has broken down again,’ Wright told Premier League Productions.
‘You’ll be able to see how disenchanted he’s and you may tell while you see someone walking off like that… you may see the difference in Eze walking off and the difference in Havertz walking off.
Eze is saying he’s alright and it’s precautionary. But with Havertz, that appears like a lengthy one.’
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