Misfiring Gyokeres fails to spark for Gunners in stalemate

Draw poses a few gentle questions about the Gunners' credentials to lift a first Premier League title since 2004. Not least of which is why Mikel Arteta persists with Gyokeres.

Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres is replaced by Gabriel Jesus during the Premier League match against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. Picture: John Walton/PA

No goals but what did you expect from a game played in weather filthier than the Thames when Jack the Ripper was a nipper and with so much attacking talent absent?

Liverpool were missing Alexander Isak, who cost €144m, and Hugo Ekitike, signed for €80m, plus whatever the heck Mo Salah is worth these days.

Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres was missing too. The Swede — his summer price tag read just €74m — was actually on the pitch, for 64 minutes anyway, yet invisible was his non-existent contribution to his side's cause.

A scoreless stalemate from a midweek fixtures bundle that saw nearest challengers Manchester City and Aston Villa also drop points through draws cannot in any way a title change diminish.

Yet it does pose a few gentle questions about the Gunners' credentials to lift a first Premier League title since 2004. Not least of which is why Mikel Arteta persists with Gyokeres.

Surely, with Gabriel Jesus fit enough to come off the bench and inject a zillion percent more energy and Kai Havertz close to returning from injury as well, it cannot be long before the man from Sporting Lisbon gets to sit and watch a while.

Has there ever been a less effective frontman in a side destined for silverware? Arsenal fans of a certain age might come up with a name, though they would be hard pressed to spell it. The France side that won the World Cup in 1998 had Gunners heroes aplenty in Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, and Emmanuel Petit but did so with a non-scoring striker named Stephane Guivarc'h.

Viktor Gyokeres is the Stephane Guivarc'h of 2025-26.

Arsenal have a trio of cup games coming up before they resume Premier League action six points ahead of their chasers, who, in Manchester City's case, are clearly not the ruthless hunters of nervous Gunners that they once were.

Six points is not the psychological settler that eight would have been however. No Premier League team with an eight-point lead after 20 games has ever been caught by the 38th.

Sixes and sevens though... Manchester United, Newcastle and Liverpool each let themselves be overhauled and it is no secret that Arsenal have been top at Christmas seven times without going on to win the title.

Arteta's men began with a swagger that suggested they intended to make the most of their opportunity to put morale-sapping distance between themselves and their challengers. Leo Trossard buzzed about like an angry wasp — too angry, he was booked for pulling Wirtz back — and Jurrien Timber getting into crossing positions time and time again on the right.

But Liverpool massed ranks in their box to repel just about everything although they mostly lacked any real out-ball options — the swift, 'heavy metal' counter-attacking football that Jurgen Klopp perfected is as much a memory as the German himself now. Even Arne Slot admits that Slotball is a little dull; Liverpool ceased resembling champions a while ago, now they are just another defensive-minded away team. A good one, mind.

Not that Arsenal have been particularly secure at the back themselves over the past month. Gabriel Magalhaes had been guilty of a goal-costing sloppy ball across his box at Bournemouth and this time it was centre-back partner William Saliba who decided to prove he was also human with too-hefty a back-pass.

David Raya gave that straight to Conor Bradley, who found the crossbar rather than net, but Slot, hands in pockets, cut a more relaxed figure on the touchline than Arteta, leaping about in Rumpelstiltskin-style frustration in his technical area.

Arsenal were lucky again early in the second period when Trossard stepped across Wirtz in a rare moment of danger created by the German. We've all seen those given but referee Anthony Taylor and VAR John Brookes each let it go.

In the end Liverpool were content to emulate another set of fallen champs when they came to the Emirates Stadium. Manchester City went five at the back and played hoof ball at the end of September's 1-1 draw.

Arsenal took that as a moral victory but it was Liverpool fans who briefly chanted 'champions' at the end of this one. Arsenal had huffed, puffed, but failed to bring the house down.

Much to do therefore for both teams. Arsenal to keep that gap intact. And Liverpool to keep themselves ahead of Brentford.