Arsenal legend Ian Wright pointed the finger at Viktor Gyokeres after the Gunners missed a “massive opportunity” to beat Chelsea on Sunday.
A fiery London derby, which produced seven yellow cards and a first-half sending-off for Moises Caicedo, ended all square after Mikel Merino cancelled out Trevoh Chalobah’s opener for 10-man Chelsea.
But Arsenal had a glorious chance to win the game in injury time when Piero Hincapie floated a cross into the six-yard box, which defender Jurrien Timber met ahead of Gyokeres and headed wide.
Wright remains convinced that Gyokeres would have likely scored, winning the game, with the Gunners legend surprised that the striker was not more forthright with his team-mate to get out of the way.
“I’m thinking Gyokeres… if this is me, I’m going be screaming so loud anyone in front of me is gonna drop out [of the way],” Wright told Premier League Productions.
“That is what I have always been told, you have to shout and let them know you’re coming because then Timber moves his head out of the way and Gyokeres comes in and gets a clean header.
“I’d be devastated with that, he’s got to let him know, Viktor Gyokeres has to let Jurrien Timber know ‘I’m coming’ because that is a massive opportunity missed.”
Fellow former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott was of similiar mind, suggesting that Gyokeres is “too nice” and he should have told Timber to get out of his space.
“This is when you get desperate towards the end of games and you want to commit loads of bodies forward,” Walcott said on Sky Sports.
“You always feel though if a right-back is in this position, I’d be asking questions if I was Gyokeres here and saying look this is my space this is why I’m on the pitch.
“But look, he’s been doing it all season but he’d be disappointed. Gyokeres would have been calling it no doubt but it just annoys me when players are out of position but I understand why Arsenal committed so many bodies.
“Gyokeres is too nice sometimes I think.”