Arteta weighs Gyökeres decision ahead of Arsenal vs Liverpool

Arsenal’s title challenge has gathered momentum, but as the Premier League summit comes into sharper focus, Mikel Arteta faces a defining call ahead of Thursday night’s showdown with Liverpool.

The Gunners have navigated a demanding festive schedule with maturity rather than fluency. Victories over Brighton, Aston Villa and Bournemouth have yielded seven more points than the same fixtures last season, and with Manchester City faltering, Arsenal now hold a six-point lead at the top of the table.

Yet despite the results, there is a growing sense that Arsenal have not consistently hit top gear — and nowhere is that debate louder than at centre-forward.

Viktor Gyökeres has started Arsenal’s last five Premier League matches but has just one goal to show for it — a penalty against Everton. That strike remains his only goal in nine league appearances since the start of November.

The raw numbers are difficult to ignore. Across those five starts, Gyökeres has logged around 360 minutes and registered just 78 touches of the ball. In contrast, Gabriel Jesus, used exclusively from the bench in the same matches, has managed almost as many touches in a quarter of the minutes — and matched Gyökeres’ goal output.

Gyökeres’ role is different, of course. He pins centre-backs, stays high and plays within the width of the box. That work paid off against Bournemouth, where his physical presence drew multiple defenders and opened space for Declan Riceto score.

But Arsenal need more than occupation from a £64m striker.

With Jesus, Arsenal’s attack looks more fluid. The Brazilian drops into pockets, links play and drags defenders out of shape — traits that helped Arsenal thrive during earlier title pushes. Even when Mikel Merino filled in higher up the pitch, the team functioned with greater cohesion.

Gyökeres has struggled to impose himself in build-up play and has too often been absent when crosses arrive. For a striker who does not regularly drop deep, his box presence has not been consistent enough.

That balance matters even more with Kai Havertz returning to fitness. Once fully sharp, Havertz is expected to compete strongly for the central role, further complicating Gyökeres’ place in Arteta’s plans.

Arsenal may yet adapt to Gyökeres by playing more directly and vertically — a style that suited him in Portugal. Over time, his qualities could still be decisive.

However, with the title race tightening and Liverpool arriving at the Emirates, this feels like a moment for pragmatism rather than patience. Gyökeres was billed as an immediate solution, but injuries around him have left the Swede carrying an unfair burden in a new league and system.

Right now, he looks more like a rotation option — deployed when matches suit his profile — than an automatic starter.

Liverpool’s visit on Thursday represents another major checkpoint in Arsenal’s title push. Arteta’s team are firm favourites, but maintaining momentum will require sharper attacking execution.

Whether Arteta opts for Jesus now or continues backing Gyökeres into form could shape not only this fixture, but the tone of Arsenal’s run-in.

Would you start Gabriel Jesus against Liverpool — or stick with Viktor Gyökeres and trust the process?