Gyokeres Under Scrutiny as Arsenal Advance in Carabao Cup
Arsenal secured their place in the Carabao Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea on Tuesday, completing a 4-2 aggregate win. However, the performance of forward Viktor Gyokeres has come under scrutiny, with Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville critical of the Swedish international’s impact in recent matches.
Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal last July for a reported £63 million from Sporting CP, started as the lone striker in both legs of the semi-final tie. In Tuesday’s second leg, he struggled to influence the game, managing just ten touches and one shot before being substituted in the 69th minute for Kai Havertz, who ultimately scored the winning goal.
Neville, speaking during Sky Sports’ coverage of the match, stated: “A massive struggle for Gyokeres. Arsenal need more from their forward players – they’ve not done enough.” This followed earlier criticism after Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool on January 9, 2026, where Gyokeres was substituted after 64 minutes.
At that time, Neville commented, “Not a surprise, that. He’s been ineffective, and that’s being kind. It’s a really poor night from him; he offered nothing. Look, there’s not getting service, and then there’s getting involved in the game and doing more; he needed to do more.” He further elaborated on The Gary Neville Podcast, suggesting Gyokeres needed to be “more of a battering ram.”
The criticism comes after a period where Gyokeres’ goalscoring form has been inconsistent. Prior to his goal against Chelsea in the first leg on January 15, 2026, his most recent strike had come in a 1-0 win over Everton in December. As of January 15, 2026, he had scored eight goals in all competitions for Arsenal.
Despite the recent struggles, Gyokeres had found the net again in a 4-0 win against Leeds on Saturday, January 31, 2026, demonstrating his ability to impact games. He has a total of 11 goals and two assists in 31 appearances across all competitions for the Gunners this season.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the challenging nature of the tie against Chelsea and the need for flexibility in his team selection. Following the victory, Arteta said, “We are so happy. I think over the last two games, I think we deserved to be through.” He also highlighted the importance of adjusting to Chelsea’s tactical changes during the match.
“It’s true that we haven’t really conceded nothing. We only created three or four chances, two big chances before the goal. The margins were going to be small because they are a really good side. They compete so well as well. They are a really good coach and I think we got it over the line,” Arteta added.
Arsenal’s progression to the Carabao Cup final marks their first appearance in a major final in five-and-a-half years. They will face an opponent yet to be determined at Wembley Stadium next month. Before that, Arsenal’s schedule includes a Premier League match against Sunderland at home on Saturday, February 7, 2026, followed by an away trip to Brentford and a home FA Cup tie against Wigan Athletic.
The spotlight will undoubtedly remain on Gyokeres as Arsenal navigate a busy fixture list. His ability to respond to Neville’s criticism and rediscover his goalscoring touch will be crucial to Arsenal’s success in the remainder of the season.
