According to a report by Metro on Thursday November 5, 2026, Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman has expressed sympathy for Arsenal forwards Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz, believing they sometimes receive unfair criticism because of Mikel Arteta's cautious playing approach.

Arsenal maintained their unbeaten Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Slavia Prague, courtesy of first-half goals from Noni Madueke and Gyokeres before Wiktor Nowak scored late.

The victory moved the Gunners into third position in the Champions League league phase after four matches, following previous wins against Napoli and Lille and a draw against Bayern Munich.

Arteta made six changes to his starting lineup following Sunday's victory over Liverpool, giving Gyokeres an opportunity to lead the attack instead of Havertz.

The Swedish striker rewarded his manager's decision by assisting Madueke's ninth-minute opener before doubling Arsenal's advantage shortly before half-time with an impressive finish.

Although Gyokeres struggled to maintain the same influence after the interval, McManaman believed his overall contribution deserved recognition rather than criticism.

Discussing the striker's performance, McManaman explained: “In the first half, they were very compact, they were very close to him, they were getting around the sides, they were making chances.”

The former England international argued that Arsenal's attacking limitations sometimes leave their forwards isolated, particularly when the team becomes stretched and struggles to support them.

McManaman added that Gyokeres and Havertz frequently become targets of criticism despite the team's conservative approach, which places considerable emphasis on defensive organisation.

He explained: “I do feel sorry for Arsenal forwards sometimes because they're not an entertaining team, they're not like a Barcelona.”

McManaman also suggested that Havertz remains Arteta's preferred option for important fixtures, believing the manager trusts the German international more when facing stronger opponents.

Despite Gyokeres' impressive performance in Prague, he expects Havertz to return to the starting lineup when Arsenal face Hull in the Premier League this weekend.

Meanwhile, Arteta praised Gyokeres' contribution, highlighting his goal, assist and excellent understanding with teammates throughout the encounter.

The Arsenal manager described the performance as particularly important for the striker, insisting his connection with the team was encouraging news for everyone.

Arteta also acknowledged that every footballer wants regular opportunities, explaining that players must demonstrate their quality whenever they receive chances to impress.