Thierry Henry delivered a must-watch analysis that exposed Viktor Gyokeres’ shortcomings during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday night. The Gunners laboured for much of their visit to the San Mames Stadium, but substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard came off the bench to change the game and secure an opening-night Champions League victory for Mikel Arteta’s side.
One player who endured a tepid display was Eberechi Eze, whose wide positioning on the touchline drew plenty of criticism. But he wasn’t the only one under fire. On a difficult night in northern Spain, Gyokeres’ anonymous showing led Arsenal’s greatest-ever player to dedicate much of his post-match analysis to the new signing.
The Swedish international has already shown promise with three goals in four league matches for his new club, suggesting he could well regain his reputation as the menacing striker that tore through defences with ease at Sporting. But Henry pinpointed one particular flaw – a weakness that, if corrected, could elevate him from a good forward to one of the best in the business.
Thierry Henry’s Must-Watch Analysis of Viktor Gyokeres
Speed, strength, and a sniper-like finish – Gyokeres has all the makings of a goal machine in the mould of Erling Haaland. That was underlined by his remarkable return of 39 goals in 33 league appearances last season before sealing a £64 million move to north London in the summer. But what also shows he has spent much of his career in less demanding competitions is the nature of his runs toward goal.
In Portugal, his raw pace alone was often enough to carve out opportunities. In the Premier League and Champions League, however, those same runs require greater intelligence and nuance if he is to elevate his game to the same level of the defenders he’s now up against.
This was a key point Henry was eager to highlight in his post-match analysis on CBS Sports. Pointing at Gyokeres as he made his way towards the penalty area, the Frenchman explained (watch below):
“The ball has to go here, across the defender. There’s no way that those guys should catch you if you take care of the ball properly. He’s going to have two chances to do it. He won’t do it. He doesn’t even look at what’s happening. He’s praying. They are praying. But that first touch is not going to be good.”
Fellow CBS pundit Micah Richards interjected and asked: “Is that a confidence thing or a technical thing?” Henry replied: “Yes, yes. Look, we all know that he’s been scoring, but away from home, that has to be a goal. He should have had a 1v1. I’m just saying this is the difference between going 1-0 up and still staying 0-0.”
The segment offered a fascinating glimpse into the mind of Thierry Henry, one of the smartest forwards the beautiful game has ever seen. It highlighted how he left no stone unturned in his quest to always stay at least half a step ahead of defenders – an approach that helped him score 175 goals in 258 Premier League appearances for the Gunners.
It also underlined the lofty standards Gyokeres must now strive for if he is to reach the very top. His next chance to prove himself comes on Sunday afternoon, when Arsenal host long-time adversaries Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium. The clash will mark the 6ft 2in striker’s first opportunity to lock horns with Haaland since his return to English football and will provide a compelling opportunity for comparison.