Wayne Rooney has delivered a scathing assessment of Mikel Arteta’s team selection after Arsenal’s frustrating display against Liverpool yesterday, with the Manchester United legend singling out the decision to start Viktor Gyokeres as a costly mistake that undermined the Gunners’ game plan on the biggest stage.
Speaking in the aftermath of the high-profile clash, Rooney did not hold back as he questioned Arteta’s judgement in trusting Gyokeres to lead the line against one of the most aggressive and tactically disciplined sides in the Premier League. According to Rooney, the Liverpool match demanded experience, composure and an instinctive understanding of elite-level pressure, qualities he felt Gyokeres failed to show throughout the contest.
Rooney argued that from the opening exchanges it was clear Arsenal struggled to impose themselves in the final third, with Gyokeres unable to cope with Liverpool’s relentless pressing and physical intensity. He pointed out that the striker looked isolated for long spells, often dropping deep in search of touches but offering little penetration behind the defensive line. For Rooney, this played directly into Liverpool’s hands, allowing them to dominate territory and dictate the tempo without being truly stretched.
The former England captain also criticised Gyokeres’ movement and decision-making, claiming Arsenal’s attacking rhythm repeatedly broke down whenever the ball reached the striker. Rooney suggested that instead of acting as a focal point, Gyokeres slowed Arsenal’s transitions, took too many touches under pressure and failed to link effectively with the wide players. In a game of such fine margins, Rooney insisted those shortcomings were magnified and ultimately hurt Arteta’s side.
Rooney went further by questioning Arteta’s broader tactical approach, suggesting that starting Gyokeres sent the wrong message in a fixture of this magnitude. He implied that Arsenal needed a forward capable of unsettling Liverpool’s centre-backs with constant movement, sharp pressing and a ruthless edge in front of goal, rather than a striker still adapting to the demands of top-level Premier League football. In Rooney’s view, Arteta overthought the selection and ignored warning signs from previous performances.
The criticism did not stop at Gyokeres’ individual display. Rooney highlighted how Arsenal’s midfield struggled to push higher up the pitch because the striker failed to occupy Liverpool’s defenders effectively. This, he argued, created a disconnect between midfield and attack, leaving Arsenal predictable and easier to defend. For a side chasing major honours, Rooney said such structural issues in big games are unacceptable.
Rooney also expressed concern about the pressure Arteta placed on Gyokeres by starting him in such a high-stakes encounter. He suggested the manager did the player no favours by throwing him into a match of this intensity, particularly when confidence and momentum are crucial for a striker’s development. According to Rooney, protecting players and setting them up to succeed is part of elite management, and on this occasion Arteta got it wrong.
From Rooney’s perspective, the Liverpool defeat should serve as a wake-up call for Arteta as Arsenal continue their push at the top end of the table. He stressed that fine tactical details and bold but sensible decisions separate title challengers from nearly teams. Rooney warned that persisting with selections that do not suit the occasion could cost Arsenal dearly over the course of the season.
While Rooney acknowledged Arteta’s progress at Arsenal and praised the overall direction of the club, he made it clear that admiration does not excuse mistakes. He insisted that managers at the highest level must be judged on their decisions in the biggest matches, and starting Gyokeres against Liverpool, in his opinion, was a gamble that backfired badly.
As debate continues to rage among fans and pundits, Rooney’s blunt assessment has added fuel to the discussion surrounding Arteta’s judgement and Arsenal’s attacking options. With crucial fixtures ahead, the spotlight will now be firmly on how Arteta responds, whether Gyokeres is trusted again in major games, and if Arsenal can learn from a decision that, according to one of England’s most outspoken football voices, played a significant role in their downfall against Liverpool.