Troy Deeney believes Viktor Gyokeres has every right to feel ‘offended’ by Mikel Arteta’s decision to start him in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup shock defeat to Fleetwood Town. The Gunners suffered a fourth-round exit against Fleetwood on Tuesday night, dumped out of the competition on penalties by a side 84 places below them in the English football pyramid.
Gyokeres pulled his side level after Aaron Loupalo-Bi’s first-half strike and scored in the shootout, but Bruno Guimaraes’ missed penalty enabled the League Two outfit to pull off an upset against last year’s runners-up. Gyokeres’ goal marked his first of the season after a frustrating few months for last summer’s marquee signing from Sporting CP.
Deeney: 'I would be kind of offended'
Former Premier League striker Deeney believes the 28-year-old will feel frustrated that his starts appear to be largely limited to cup competitions against weaker opposition.
‘Personally, I would be kind of offended if the manager was saying I was playing in this game,’ Deeney told CBS post-match. ‘That would be how I look at it. The problem he’s had, in all seriousness, is a difficult summer; every time they were linked with Julian Alvarez or any other player, he was part of the deal to go. They were trying to get him out the door, remember he didn’t play until the window closed. So there was that moment for him where he was feeling unloved, unwanted; he’s gone to Sweden, scored six in six, so he’s got the confidence when he’s away. But with Arsenal, and I say it week in, week out, but the other part to it is that the players don’t trust him.’
Petit: Gyokeres 'not welcome anymore'
Speaking recently on Gyokeres’ fortunes at Arsenal, former Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Petit suggested the Swede’s days in north London could be numbered.
‘He’s not the priority in the pecking order,’ Petit told Betfred. ‘I think he’s lost confidence and you can see that. He’s not the only one actually; [Eberechi] Eze for example against Forest looked nervous. They’re all competing to earn their place in the first team and the competition is high when you consider the quality they have in the squad. Gyokeres knows that he’s not the first priority and it will be difficult for him to play in some very important matches. We can see that he’s lost confidence and we don’t know what his future will be at Arsenal and the club looked at strikers in the transfer market and for me, that was a clear message to Gyokeres that he’s not welcome anymore.’
Deeney: Finishing remains a concern
Speaking after Arsenal’s shock defeat, Deeney again highlighted the Gunners’ lack of clinical finishing, which has proved costly already this season.
‘Even though they played poorly, and all of those things, if Haaland or Isak or Jackson is on the end of those chances, it’s a goal,’ he added. ‘You can name so many strikers that would get on the end of those chances and score, and that’s the difference why Arsenal, in my opinion, don’t break teams down because there is never that threat from the defending team’s point of view.’
