According to a report by Daily Post on Friday November 6, 2026, former Real Madrid midfielder Steve McManaman has expressed sympathy for Arsenal forwards Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz, claiming that the two players sometimes receive unfair criticism because of Mikel Arteta's tactical approach.

McManaman believes Arsenal's cautious style of play makes things difficult for their attackers, who are often blamed when the team fails to produce enough attacking opportunities.

The former England international made the comments following Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Slavia Prague in the UEFA Champions League in midweek.

Although Arsenal secured an important result, McManaman suggested that their approach to matches does not always allow their forwards to express themselves freely.

Speaking as quoted by Metro UK, McManaman said: "I do feel sorry for Arsenal forwards sometimes because they are not an entertaining team like Barcelona.

"They defend very deep as a whole, Gyokeres and Havertz sometimes get the blame because of that. It is the midfielders and the defenders that we talk about."

His comments suggest that he believes Arsenal's attacking difficulties cannot always be blamed on the players leading the forward line.

Gyokeres and Havertz are expected to provide goals and attacking contributions for Arteta's side, but McManaman feels the team's overall tactical structure can sometimes limit their effectiveness.

According to the former Real Madrid star, Arsenal's tendency to defend deep as a unit can leave their forwards struggling to influence matches.

He believes the two attackers sometimes become the focus of criticism when the underlying issues are related to how the entire team approaches games.

McManaman also compared Arsenal's playing style with that of Barcelona, suggesting that the Spanish club offer a more entertaining brand of attacking football.

The comparison highlights his view that Arsenal are sometimes more cautious in their approach rather than committing as many players forward to create attacking opportunities.

Meanwhile, Arsenal continue to enjoy a positive campaign under Arteta.

The Gunners are currently top of the Premier League table with 24 points, according to the report, and will welcome Hull City to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Arteta's side head into the encounter after their 2-1 Champions League victory over Slavia Prague, a result that maintained their positive momentum.

However, McManaman's comments raise questions about whether Arsenal's approach gives their forwards enough support to consistently deliver their best performances.

For Gyokeres and Havertz, the expectations remain high because of their roles in Arsenal's attack.

Nevertheless, McManaman believes they should not carry the responsibility for every attacking problem, particularly when the team's overall defensive approach can affect their ability to make an impact.