Viktor Gyokeres' brutal remark from Gary Neville speaks volumes as Mikel Arteta faces decision

Gary Neville slammed Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres while co-commentating on Thursday night's 0-0 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League at Emirates Stadium

Gary Neville claimed Viktor Gyokeres offered Arsenal "nothing" during their 0-0 draw with Liverpool before being hooked off.

The striker did not have a single shot and managed just eight touches before being substituted in the 64th minute. All but one of his involvements were passes, six of which he completed for an 86% success rate, including a key one. His other touch led to him losing possession.

Eight is the least amount of touches for Gyokeres in a match that he started this season. Thursday's game was also the fourth Premier League fixture he has started without taking a shot.

Neville was a co-commentator for Sky Sports on the match and said in response to Gyokeres' withdrawal: "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."

The former Manchester United player expanded on those initial comments after the match. He then said on The Gary Neville Podcast: "I just thought, come on, be more of a battering ram.

"We've become used to, at times, centre-forwards not getting involved in the game as much and not contributing as much in general play. But what they have to be is in the right position in the box.

"They have to be making runs across the goalkeeper, across the near post. They have to make sure that they're charging in and sliding in the six-yard box when that ball gets fired across.

"And he didn't do that bit. That's the bit I'm disappointed with him in.

"If you're not doing that, you've got to then do the other bit, which is the ugly bit of pressing and harassing and holding the ball up. But I don't think he contributed anything, really, to the game tonight as a centre-forward for Arsenal."

Mikel Arteta now faces a big decision – does he stick or twist with the £64m striker, or give him a break from the starting XI in the coming weeks? The Gunners can't afford to not be scoring and dropping points with Manchester City constantly on their tail in the Premier League title race.

Gyokeres' replacement, Gabriel Jesus, for comparison, had one shot, which he got on target, and 12 touches in about 30 minutes, if you include added time. The Brazilian made five passes, just one of which was accurate - and none key - for a 20% success rate.

Jesus also attempted two dribbles, compared to Gyokeres' none, and won one, resulting in a 50% success rate. The substitute also had an offensive aerial and committed two fouls, two more categories in which his team-mate did not contribute.

Gyokeres has not completed 90 minutes since the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in late October. He has been brought on or off in the 11 matches since then. The first of those withdrawals was due to sustaining a hamstring injury during the next game he played, a 2-0 win over Burnley on 1 November, in which he last scored a goal that was not a penalty.

Three appearances from the bench then followed in late November and early December. However, his seven appearances since then have been from the start.

Thursday's match was notably just the second time he has come off in a game when Arsenal were not already winning. The only other occasion was against Athletic Club in the Champions League, when Gyokeres came on for Leandro Trossard, who came off the bench in Bilbao to assist Arsenal's opening goal for Gabriel Martinelli before scoring their second in the 2-0 win.

Up next for Arsenal is their FA Cup third round tie at Championship Portsmouth on Sunday, where it will be interesting to see if Gyokeres starts. Jesus could get the nod, while Kai Havertz remains absent from the squad after a lengthy spell out. Mikel Merino could also be used up top.

Arsenal then go to Chelsea next Wednesday for their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, before heading to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, January 17 in the Premier League.