{"id":7291,"date":"2026-04-19T15:25:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T15:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=7291"},"modified":"2026-04-19T15:25:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T15:25:11","slug":"why-viktor-gyokeres-has-been-dropped-for-arsenals-clash-with-man-city-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=7291","title":{"rendered":"Why Viktor Gyokeres has been dropped for Arsenal’s clash with Man City | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Viktor Gyokeres starts on the bench for league leaders Arsenal at Manchester City (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mikel Arteta says Kai Havertz\u2019s \u2018intelligence\u2019 and ability to \u2018bring other into play\u2019 were factors in his decision to drop Viktor Gyokeres down to the bench for Arsenal\u2019s crunch match with second-placed Manchester City.<\/p>\n

The Premier League leaders have made a total of two changes to the team that faced Sporting in midweek, with Gabriel Martinelli and Gyokeres missing out in favour of Martin Odegaard and Havertz respectively.<\/p>\n

Gyokeres has found the net in all of the Gunners\u2019 last three Premier League contests with Everton, Southampton and Bournemouth, but struggled in Wednesday\u2019s Champions League quarter-final second leg.<\/p>\n

Arteta had experimented with both Gyokeres and Havertz in the same starting XI for the side\u2019s recent defeat at Bournemouth, but the latter will be the focal point of the visitors\u2019 attack this afternoon.<\/p>\n

Club captain Odegaard, meanwhile, appears to have shaken off his injury concerns to start at No.10 having missed the goalless draw with Sporting, with Eberechi Eze moving out to the left flank.<\/p>\n

\u2018There are a lot of factors,\u2019 Arteta told Sky Sports when asked to explain his decision to select Havertz over Gyokeres.<\/p>\n

\u2018Kai is very intelligent. The way he occupies spaces, spins players, bring players into play. All the things that are necessary to do in this game. He\u2019s a top player for that.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Havertz has been given the nod up front for today\u2019s visitors (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the task that awaits his Arsenal team, Arteta continued: \u2018It\u2019s going to be a match between two sides who have a lot of capacity to adapt, play a different game with a lot of quality on the pitch. <\/p>\n

\u2018We have to navigate through the game, impose ourselves in the manner we have done for many months.<\/p>\n

\u2018Today, we have a quite lot of players who can deliver that. We have a lot of flexibility in the team. [Odegaard] plays with a lot of personality, leadership \u2013 he\u2019s very comfortable under pressure.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Manchester\t<\/div>
Odegaard has been struggling with a knee problem (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Arteta hopes Eze is able to continue his \u2018phenomenal\u2019 run for form on the big stage against second-placed City this afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u2018Every game requires different things,\u2019 the Arsenal boss said of Eze\u2019s return to the left wing.<\/p>\n

\u2018The players we have around us are very important. <\/p>\n

\u2018Ebs has been phenomenal for us for months, he\u2019s a player for this kind of game.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Manchester\t<\/div>
Eze starts on the left flank in Manchester (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today\u2019s hosts City have opted for the same team that cruised to a comprehensive 3-0 victory away to Chelsea last weekend.<\/p>\n

There had been some doubts over Nico O\u2019Reilly\u2019s fitness after the young England international limped off at Stamford Bridge with a muscle issue, but he has been passed fit to feature in this afternoon\u2019s potential title decider.<\/p>\n

John Stones, meanwhile, has been named on City\u2019s substitutes bench and could feature for the first time since the side\u2019s win at Newcastle on March 7.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Manchester\t<\/div>
O\u2019Reilly starts after some concerns over his fitness in the week (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Every manager has won before on the tactical board. They prepare best what they have to do. But after [the whistle], the opponent plays, the referee plays. Many things can happen,\u2019 Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports ahead of kick-off.<\/p>\n

\u2018Play our game-plan. That\u2019s all they have to do, in all aspects of the game. Game plan, that\u2019s all.<\/p>\n

\u2018Results help. We\u2019ve had a good results. Not perfect 95 minutes. It\u2019s mainly happened with new players in the squad. It\u2019s important that after many years, we are there. Six or seven games, we are close to being in the Champions League next season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018People say, how naive is Pep? But it\u2019s the most important title for stability. Next season, we\u2019ll be there. Now we want to extend the chances to fight until the end in the Premier League.\u2019<\/p>\n

On Arteta, his former assistant at City, Guardiola added: \u2018I\u2019m not one to give advice to Mikel, but I would say do what they\u2019ve done all season. <\/p>\n

\u2018Because they\u2019ve been really bad right? Unbeaten in the Champions League, top of the Premier League.<\/p>\n

\u2018Of course, they can adjust something. But the mindset of the team will be the same.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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