Gyokeres received some helpful advice from the former Arsenal striker.
After Arsenal’s Champions League debut, Thierry Henry gave Viktor Gyokeres some insightful advise in a must-watch CBS piece.
With goals from replacements Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, the Gunners defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 to begin their 2025–26 Champions League campaign.
Viktor Gyokeres, a summer acquisition, was given his eagerly awaited European debut by Mikel Arteta, but the Swede was substituted by Trossard after failing to score.
The 27-year-old did had a fantastic opportunity to score first.
Gyokeres ultimately reached the 18-yard box after evading the offside trap, but a bad touch restricted the angle and he was unable to force Unai Simon to work, which Henry criticised, as can be seen here.
https://x.com/r1medi/status/1968048919839141910
“The ball has to go here, across the defender,” Henry said, gesturing to Gyokeres as he headed towards the penalty area. If you take good care of the ball, those men shouldn’t be able to catch you.”
“He’s going to have two chances to do it,” the former striker for Arsenal continued. “He refuses to do it. He doesn’t even glance at the situation. He’s in prayer. They’re in prayer. However, that initial contact won’t be pleasant.
“Is that a confidence thing or a technical thing?” said Micah Richards, a fellow CBS pundit.
“Yes, yes,” Henry answered. He’s been scoring, as we all know, but it must be a goal while he’s not at home. It should have been a 1v1 for him. Simply put, this is the difference between leading 1-0 and remaining at 0-0.
Fans responded to Henry’s insight on social media in the following ways.
One person wrote: “On the elite stage, these margins determine games. The majority of top #9s, including Kane, Mbappe, Isak, and Haaland, murder the opposition with the touch Henry mentioned. However, Gyokeres was spared that task in Portugal. The circumstances have evolved.
Another added: “Nothing better than listening to great players breaking down the intricacies of their craft like this,” while another added: “Brilliant analysis from Thierry Henry on the small details that stopped Gyokeres scoring for Arsenal.”
“He’s such a top pundit,” a fourth person wrote. A few months back, he performed an examination on someone’s touch and was astounded by how excellent it was. He always picks up on the little things that the 0.01% notice.
A fifth said: “He’s absolutely correct. Gyokeres had to go straight to goal by moving inside with his first touch. The defender is dismissed after committing a foul.
Prior to Gyokeres’ Arsenal debut, Henry asked supporters to exercise patience while the Sweden international adjusts to a new team.
“It’s always unfair because whenever I say something about a striker, it puts undue pressure on them, sometimes going above and beyond,” he told Betway.
“You watched Gyokeres’ goal against Athletic Club the other day, so that’s what I would say about him. He is a true No. 9 because of his ability to predict crosses, hit a fantastic header with a gentle touch, and guide the ball to the other side of the goal. That’s what a 9 is for.
“He won’t drop into midfield like a Firmino sort of nine. He expressed his desire to be in the box, between the posts, saying, “Please put the ball in the box and serve me.”
“You have a guy that’s a killer in the box – numbers don’t lie – and you have a team that create a lot of chances, so it should be the perfect match, but you have to also understand that sometimes it doesn’t click straight away.”
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