Pundit Paul Merson has urged Mikel Arteta to recall Viktor Gyokeres to the starting XI in Arsenal’s Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid. The Gunners will take on Diego Simeone’s side in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday, April 29.

Mikel Arteta’s side managed to secure a scrappy 1-0 win against Newcastle United on Saturday, April 25. While they returned to the top of the Premier League table, they suffered a potentially major blow with Kai Havertz going off with another injury.

With Havertz potentially out for a lengthy period, Paul Merson has urged Arteta to trust Gyokeres up front. The Sweden international was benched in Arsenal‘s 2-1 defeat against Manchester City last week and was again named on the bench against Newcastle United.

However, Merson believes that Gyokeres could play a key role for the north London giants in their semi-final clash against Atletico Madrid. He said, as quoted by Metro:

“He [Gyokeres] will still play a big part in it [Arsenal’s title run-in]. For me, he plays in Europe on Wednesday night because he will hold the ball up. Arsenal will be under pressure and it will be a difficult game for them in Madrid.”

Merson added:

“That’s when you need Gyokeres to get you a throw in down the touchline, he runs after lost causes. The biggest time the whole crowed lifted today was when he cleared the ball from a corner and chased it down there and won it back and it lifted everybody.”

Expectations were high from Gyokeres when he was snapped up by Arsenal from Sporting CP last summer in a deal worth a reported £64 million. The Sweden international has not quite lived up to them in his debut season, having scored only 18 goals in 48 games across competitions.

Arsenal great Ian Wright sunbs Viktor Gyokeres for Arsenal star who should replace injured Kai Havertz in their starting XI

Ian Wright has claimed Mikel Merino should play up front for Arsenal ahead of Viktor Gyokeres in place of injured Kai Havertz. The former Chelsea star went off with seemingly with a groin injury in the Gunners’ 1-0 win against Newcastle United on Saturday, April 25.

With Mikel Merino close to returning from a foot injury that has kept him out since January, Wright has urged Arteta to play him up front. The Arsenal legend said:

“Maybe [it will be Gyokeres] but I am hearing Merino is on his way back as well. I don’t know how fit he will be but he is similar to Havertz in the way he can link the play. He is great finisher in the box so fingers crossed he can come back in the next week, two weeks and fill that gap.”

Wright also feared that Havertz could be out for a considerable period, which would be a major blow to the Gunners. He added:

“I’m quite concerned when you consider he has broken down again. You can see how disappointed he is and you can tell when you see someone walking off like that… you can see the difference in Eze walking off and the difference in Havertz walking off. Eze is saying he’s alright and it’s precautionary. But with Havertz, that looks like a lengthy one.”

Havertz has already missed 39 games for club and country thus far this season and has played only 835 minutes of football. He has scored five goals and provided four assists across competitions.