Back-to-back goalless Premier League draws have intensified scrutiny on Arsenal’s attacking options ahead of the crucial Sunday encounter with Manchester United. The Gunners have scored just twice from open play in 2026, both via midfielder Declan Rice, highlighting a notable lack of sparkle from the forward line in recent weeks. This performance trend, combined with Arsenal facing an increasingly defensive Manchester United side, presents Mikel Arteta with a significant tactical selection challenge.
The decision between Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz will prove crucial to Arsenal’s attacking performance. Each player brings distinct attributes and statistical profiles that suit different tactical scenarios. Understanding how each striker complements Arsenal’s playing style against Man United’s anticipated defensive setup becomes essential for Arteta’s team selection.
Table of Contents
Arsenal’s Attacking Struggles and Goal-Scoring Drought
The statistics reveal concerning trends across Arsenal’s attacking players. Gabriel Martinelli has gone 13 matches without a Premier League goal despite scoring seven times in other competitions. Noni Madueke faces a similar 13-match Premier League drought with three goals elsewhere. Bukayo Saka has not scored in the league for eight matches, while Mohamed Merino has gone seven matches without a goal. Elsewhere, Eberechi Eze has not scored in six matches, and even Leandro Trossard has gone three matches without finding the net.
However, it should be noted that most of these players have not been starting consistently, and several have scored multiple goals in other competitions during the same period. Viktor Gyokeres has managed five Premier League matches without a goal but scored twice in other competitions. Gabriel Jesus has gone three Premier League appearances without scoring but has two goals in other competitions during the same period.
| Player | PL Matches Without Goal | Starts | Goals in Other Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martinelli | 13 | 5 | 7 |
| Madueke | 13 | 7 | 3 |
| Saka | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| Merino | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Eze | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Gyokeres | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Trossard | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Gabriel Jesus | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Arsenal’s Reliance on Set-Pieces and Open Play Limitations
A significant concern for Arsenal in 2026 is their overdependence on set-piece goals to break the deadlock. In 11 of their 15 top-flight victories this season, the opening goal came from a set-piece. With a one-goal lead, Arsenal have been imperious, claiming 46 points from a possible 48. However, this reliance on set-piece success masks deeper issues in open play attacking efficiency.
In open play, Arsenal have created a lower Expected Goals (xG) figure than four of the top six sides in the table. Manchester City leads with 33.88 xG, followed by Liverpool (30.63), Manchester United (30.53), Chelsea (29.46), Arsenal (27.86), and Aston Villa (20.48). This significant gap highlights scope for major improvement in Arsenal’s open play attacking creation.
The Low Block Problem: Arsenal’s Achilles Heel
One critical issue affecting Arsenal’s recent performances is their struggle against defensive opponents. Most of Arsenal’s best performances in 2025-26 have come against teams willing to engage in open, attacking football rather than setting up in low, defensive blocks.
In the UEFA Champions League, Arsenal has produced exhilarating attacking football, scoring 20 times in seven straight victories while conceding just twice. In Premier League matches, however, they encounter more pragmatic opponents placing 10 or 11 men behind the ball, denying Arsenal space centrally, between the lines, and in behind the last defender. Even Manchester City employed a defensive approach in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal, holding just 32.80 percent possession—the lowest figure produced by a Pep Guardiola team in 601 league matches of his coaching career.
Arsenal’s attacking efficiency correlates directly with opponents’ possession levels. In matches where Arsenal scored three or more goals, their opponents averaged 47.20 percent possession. Conversely, in matches where Arsenal scored two or fewer goals, that figure drops to 40.07 percent. This data reveals Arsenal are far more fluid and enterprising when teams commit numbers forward.
| Arsenal Performance (2025-26) | Opposition Possession |
|---|---|
| 3+ Goals | 47.20% |
| 0-2 Goals | 40.07% |
Arsenal has faced the second-lowest defensive line in 2025-26, behind only Liverpool. Their average opposition last defender sits 29.6 meters from goal. This defensive compactness makes breaking down packed defenses a grueling proposition.
Michael Carrick’s Manchester United, who played brilliantly to defeat Manchester City with just 31.80 percent possession, will likely employ similar defensive tactics at Emirates Stadium. Defending behind the ball before countering at speed represents the most sensible tactical approach for the Red Devils.
Viktor Gyokeres: The Stretching Specialist
Viktor Gyokeres thrives when Arsenal plays direct, stretching opposition defenses. Five of his nine goals in all competitions have come in open play, and all five occurred when Arsenal played longer balls beyond the opposition backline. His only two top-flight goals outside penalties and set-pieces came at home to Leeds United and Nottingham Forest, when both defenses were punished for holding high lines.
The goal against Leeds resulted from a lengthy pass from Riccardo Calafiori releasing Gyokeres down the left, from where he cut inside to score. Against Forest, Calafiori picked out Eberechi Eze’s run, and he crossed low for Gyokeres to convert. In midweek, a fabulous 40-yard pass over the top from Martinelli released Gyokeres beyond the last defender, and he fired home from outside the box. His other two open-play goals against Atletico Madrid and Chelsea also came from situations where Arsenal played the ball in behind the opposition rearguard.
Gyokeres is most dangerous when his markers are forced to sprint back toward their own goal, a scenario that occurs far less frequently against low blocks.
However, Arsenal is not providing Gyokeres sufficient ammunition. Among 34 top-flight players scoring five or more goals, 23 have taken more shots than Gyokeres, who ranks 28th for shooting accuracy (45.83 percent). More critically, Gyokeres has missed seven of 11 big chances this season. Arsenal has served him just six big chance-creating passes all season—a stark contrast to Erling Haaland (30 big chance-creating passes at Manchester City) and Igor Thiago (16 at Brentford).
During Gyokeres’ most productive period (four goals in his first 10 matches), Arsenal played more directly. Long passes per 90 decreased from 44.60 in matchweeks 1-10 to 42.40 in matchweeks 11-22. Successful long passes similarly declined from 20 to 16.33 per 90.
| Arsenal Passing | MW1-10 | MW11-22 |
|---|---|---|
| Long passes/90 | 44.60 | 42.40 |
| Successful long passes/90 | 20 | 16.33 |
Comparing the Striker Options
Kai Havertz boasts the strongest goal output among Arsenal’s forwards when starting, scoring 0.50 goals per 90 minutes. However, he is not yet fit enough to start the Man United match. Gabriel Jesus offers 0.40 goals per 90 and 0.23 assists per 90. His varied movement, unpredictability, and link play make Arsenal’s side more fluid in possession. Gyokeres averages 0.35 goals per 90 and 0.00 assists per 90, with significantly fewer touches and touches in the box compared to his competitors.
Jesus’ impressive brace against Internazionale Milano in the Champions League has propelled him into Arteta’s thinking for the United match. His superior ball progression (28.2 passes per 90 versus Gyokeres’ 10.7) and duel-winning ability (6.7 duels won per 90 versus Gyokeres’ 3.1) provide Arsenal with creative fluidity that could unlock Manchester United’s defense.
| Striker Comparison | Gyokeres | Gabriel Jesus | Havertz | Merino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starts | 17 | 47 | 31 | 11 |
| Goals/90 | 0.35 | 0.40 | 0.50 | 0.38 |
| Assists/90 | 0.00 | 0.23 | 0.30 | 0.29 |
| Passes/90 | 10.7 | 28.2 | 24.0 | 22.9 |
| Touches in box/90 | 6.2 | 9.1 | 6.2 | 4.0 |
| Shot conversion | 12% | 19% | 20% | 16% |
The Case for Gabriel Jesus as Starting Striker
Gabriel Jesus presents the most logical starting option for this fixture. His varied movement and unpredictability create space within Arsenal’s system, enabling teammates to operate more effectively. His link play and passing accuracy facilitate team fluid possession patterns that could unlock Manchester United’s defensive setup. With Havertz not yet fully fit and Gyokeres naturally struggling against low blocks, Jesus offers the best balance of attacking output and team contribution.
His superior big chance conversion (19 percent) compared to Gyokeres (12 percent) demonstrates clinical finishing. His increased touches in the box (9.1 per 90) suggest he receives more goal-scoring opportunities from teammates. Against defensive-minded opponents, his playmaking ability becomes increasingly valuable.
Gyokeres as an Impact Substitute
Arteta might consider deploying Gyokeres as an impact substitute for the latter stages of the match. His style suits coming off the bench when defenders tire and opposition defensive lines inevitably rise higher. When rivals push forward attempting to get back into matches, Gyokeres’ pressing intensity and threat in behind become potent weapons.
The higher the defensive line, the more Gyokeres thrives. His energized pressing could prove nightmarish for Manchester United centre-backs late in matches when fatigue sets in. However, deploying him from the start against a compact, low block would negate his primary strengths.
Mikel Arteta faces a genuine selection dilemma ahead of Arsenal’s Manchester United clash. While Viktor Gyokeres has been an exciting addition with genuine threat against high defensive lines, Gabriel Jesus offers superior balance for this particular fixture. Jesus’ varied movement, improved form after his Champions League brace, and proven ability to link play make him the optimal starting choice against Manchester United’s anticipated defensive setup.
Gyokeres would benefit from becoming Arsenal’s impact substitute, deployed when Manchester United’s defense begins tiring and the defensive line naturally rises higher. This tactical approach would maximize the strengths of both players while compensating for their respective weaknesses in this specific matchup. The coming weeks will reveal whether Arteta implements this strategy or opts for an alternative approach.
Read More: Five Manchester United Players Positioned to Flourish Under Carrick’s Tactical Overhaul
FAQs
Why does Gyokeres struggle against low blocks?
He thrives on through-balls and space to run into. Low blocks deny this, forcing him to operate in crowded areas where his running threat becomes minimal.
What’s Gabriel Jesus’ main advantage over Gyokeres?
Jesus offers superior passing (28.2 per 90 vs 10.7), more touches in the box, and better link play, making him ideal for unlocking defensive opponents.
Why isn’t Kai Havertz starting against Man United?
Havertz is not yet fit enough to start. He’s the likely starter when fully recovered, given his 0.50 goals per 90 average—highest among Arsenal’s forwards.
Is Arsenal too reliant on set-pieces?
Yes. Eleven of 15 top-flight victories started with set-piece goals. They need to improve open play efficiency, ranking fifth in the top six with 27.86 xG.
How should Arteta use Gyokeres tactically?
Deploy him as an impact substitute when defenders tire and defensive lines rise higher, maximizing his threat in behind rather than starting against low blocks.
