Wayne Rooney has voiced concern that Mikel Arteta’s surprising decision to leave Viktor Gyokeres on the bench against Manchester City could prove deeply damaging to the striker’s confidence. The move, a gamble in a pivotal match, ultimately coincided with a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat for Arsenal.
The Gunners entered the Etihad Stadium knowing a victory would bring them within touching distance of their first Premier League title in two decades. Despite a noticeable improvement in their performance, the loss now leaves their fate hanging precariously in the balance.
Manchester City now hold the advantage, poised to leapfrog Arsenal at the top of the table with a win over Burnley. With five games remaining, the title race has been distilled into a tense, head-to-head battle, one City are widely expected to win given their formidable attacking power.
Gyokeres, Arsenal’s leading goalscorer with 18 goals across all competitions, was a shock omission from the starting eleven. Arteta instead opted for Kai Havertz, a decision that now faces intense scrutiny.
Havertz did manage to find the net, capitalizing on a charged-down clearance, but crucially squandered two golden opportunities before Erling Haaland’s decisive 65th-minute goal. The missed chances hung heavy in the air.
Introduced with just 14 minutes of play remaining, including stoppage time, Gyokeres struggled to find his rhythm and didn’t even register a single touch of the ball – a stark and unsettling statistic.
“These decisions, if he comes on and scores the winner, are seen as the right call,” Rooney explained. “But I thought with him not starting, Arsenal would have sat in. It was strange to leave out a number nine they’ve been searching for all season, and I think he’s done okay. Not starting him in such a big game could affect him.”
Despite the recent setbacks – four consecutive domestic losses – Rooney remains optimistic about Arsenal’s chances. He believes the title race is far from over and anticipates further dramatic twists.
“I still feel like there are some more twists and turns to come,” Rooney asserted. “It’s going to be tight, but City have a game in hand. I still have Arsenal down as slight favourites.”
Rooney drew on his own experience, recalling the immense pressure of needing to win every remaining game to secure a title. He emphasized the importance of composure under such intense scrutiny.
“You look at your games and think you *should* win this one, or that one, but it never pans out that way,” he said. “From now until the end of the season, it’s down to which team keeps their composure best – that’s who will win it.”
Arteta himself acknowledged the fine margins and the element of luck involved. He expressed pride in his team’s performance but lamented their inability to convert their chances.
“The biggest disappointment is that we did a lot of good things,” Arteta stated. “We created the biggest chances, but we didn’t score. There was an element of luck, hitting the post was unfortunate. It has to go your way, and it didn’t today.”
Despite the setback, Arteta remains resolute, declaring the title race is still very much alive. “We lost an opportunity in terms of the result, but they have a game in hand, we have three points. Game on, because it is a new Premier League.”
