He’s more of an ox than a donkey by the way.
Donkeys are highly intelligent, nothing he does (or Arteta’s use of him) reflects that.
Now I do need to put some of this criticism on Arteta. Perhaps a 50/50 split between the ox and his stubborn driver. What did we know about Gyokeres coming in? He loved working the left channel, was a willing runner, and decent at converting his (type of) chances. The rest of his game was clearly at Championship or Portuguese level standards.
So why are we surprised when we’ve limited him to using his Championship level skillset?
Odegaard doesn’t ever play him in behind, criminally so today when Gyokeres was in his preferred channel. Instead, we ask Gyokeres to favor the center or right channels, and simply battle CBs.
Rice can only pass with his right foot, which doesn’t favor playing in Gyokeres either. And on that flank we also play Hincapie and Martinelli, both technically limited.
So our primary chance creator (Odegaard) doesn’t align with our center forward, and our entire right flank isn’t set up to support him either.
He’d been doomed from day one and should be sold this summer, but I call all this out to highlight Arteta’s role and that I’m concerned he couldn’t see this coming nor course correct. I’m not sure a new striker is so much a cure as a Hail Mary while Arteta is still in charge.
