Not just Gyokeres: Arsenal’s “one-dimensional” star shouldn’t be starting
Declan Rice did not exhibit the performance typical of a midfielder who missed Arsenal’s latest victory against Aston Villa; however, Rice is far from an ordinary midfielder, showcasing a masterclass to lead his team to a 3-2 triumph over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. Arsenal currently sits atop the Premier League, boasting a five-point lead over second-placed Aston Villa, although Manchester City could narrow the gap to three points with a win against the managerless Chelsea on Sunday evening.
Everything appears to be aligning for the Gunners, who exhibit remarkable strength across all areas. Nevertheless, the sweeping summer revamps haven’t fully materialized as anticipated, with Viktor Gyokeres continuing to find it difficult in the number nine position.
Viktor Gyokeres struggles to impress (again)
This summer, Gyokeres made the switch to Arsenal from Sporting Lisbon in a transfer valued at approximately £64m. Although it took considerable time and effort to find a new number nine, the Sweden international has yet to find his rhythm within Mikel Arteta’s tactical setup. This was evident once more during the match against Bournemouth.
Gyokeres labored and exerted effort but failed to generate any significant impact in the attacking zone, completing only five passes and attempting just one blocked shot. Yet, he did contribute in the buildup leading to Rice’s first goal. However, with Mikel Merino emerging as a clinical option when needed and Gabriel Jesus now back in fitness, it’s apparent that the 27-year-old must significantly elevate his performance level if he hopes to retain his spot in the starting lineup.
While Gyokeres is industrious and a source of annoyance for defenders in attack, he should be delivering more for Arteta inside the penalty area. With Jesus now fit and scoring, he may find opportunities to start becoming increasingly limited. He is not alone in this regard, as another player at the opposite end of the pitch is also underperforming.
Arteta must drop “one-dimensional” star
Arsenal is the most well-rounded team in the country. After landing second in each of the last three Premier League seasons, this certainly appears to be Arteta’s year, especially given the dominant position in which the Gunners find themselves.
With the understanding that stakes are high, Arsenal might consider replacing Piero Hincapie, who has integrated into Arteta’s defensive framework but may not be providing sufficient contributions in attack. In his nine Premier League appearances since arriving on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, the 23-year-old has yet to facilitate a significant scoring opportunity, averaging just 0.1 dribbles per match, as per Sofascore. Such shortcomings were apparent against Andoni Iraola’s spirited squad, leading the London Evening Standard to award him a 5/10 for his performance, highlighting his ineffective and careless passing.
Piero Hincapie vs Bournemouth
| Stats | |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 90′ |
| Goals + Assists | 0 + 0 |
| Touches | 44 |
| Shots (on target) | 0 (0) |
| Accurate passes | 19/27 (70%) |
| Key passes | 1 |
| Crosses | 0/1 |
| Possession lost | 10x |
| Dribbles | 0/0 |
| Recoveries | 3 |
| Tackles won | 1/2 |
| Clearances | 1 |
| Duels won | 8/9 |
Data via Sofascore
Is this a flaw in technique or an issue with coaching? Hincapie displays talent as a dynamic defender, exhibiting strength, composure, and style with the ball. However, he is not Riccardo Calafiori, and some fans are still hoping for Myles Lewis-Skelly, a powerful young prospect, to receive more playing time.
Indeed, Arsenal content creator James Clark even noted that “Hincapie and Martinelli are both too one-dimensional”. He positions himself well for playmaking opportunities and defends effectively – Semenyo was kept relatively quiet during the match – but perhaps he currently lacks the breadth to contribute more fully in attack.
Hincapie is a capable player. There’s little to indicate that he lacks the potential to develop into a solid Premier League defender. However, it may reflect the strength of Arteta’s Arsenal project that he has become perceived as something of a weak link. This squad is undeniably that skilled.
Published: 2026-01-04 13:10:00
source: www.footballfancast.com
