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Viktor Gyökeres couldn't have picked a much better time to remind Mikel Arteta what he brings to this Arsenal side. A goal and an assist in a 2-1 victory away to Slavia Prague is a pretty convincing argument for another start.
I'd keep him in the team while that confidence is building. Strikers thrive on momentum, and there's little reason to disrupt things when a player is starting to produce the kind of performances Arsenal need from their centre-forward.
The victory also leaves Arsenal with 10 points from four Champions League matches, putting them in a strong position. However, the final stages in Prague were considerably more uncomfortable than they needed to be.
Gabriel had to make two goal-line clearances before Slavia eventually found the net. That's a warning sign Arteta shouldn't ignore. Arsenal had done enough going forward to give themselves some breathing room, yet their defensive work nearly turned a comfortable evening into a nervy finish.
Credit to Gyökeres and the other attacking players for putting Arsenal in that position, but the defensive concentration needs to match the quality they're producing at the other end.
Arteta has plenty of decisions to make as the season progresses. His striker selection might be getting a little easier, though.
Should Gyökeres keep his place in Arsenal's starting XI after this performance, or does Arteta have enough attacking options to rotate his centre-forwards?
I'd keep him in the team while that confidence is building. Strikers thrive on momentum, and there's little reason to disrupt things when a player is starting to produce the kind of performances Arsenal need from their centre-forward.
The victory also leaves Arsenal with 10 points from four Champions League matches, putting them in a strong position. However, the final stages in Prague were considerably more uncomfortable than they needed to be.
Gabriel had to make two goal-line clearances before Slavia eventually found the net. That's a warning sign Arteta shouldn't ignore. Arsenal had done enough going forward to give themselves some breathing room, yet their defensive work nearly turned a comfortable evening into a nervy finish.
Credit to Gyökeres and the other attacking players for putting Arsenal in that position, but the defensive concentration needs to match the quality they're producing at the other end.
Arteta has plenty of decisions to make as the season progresses. His striker selection might be getting a little easier, though.
Should Gyökeres keep his place in Arsenal's starting XI after this performance, or does Arteta have enough attacking options to rotate his centre-forwards?
