Thierry Henry has highlighted an Arsenal player he thinks may be causing some frustration for Mikel Arteta, particularly after Arsenal’s recent 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
This result leaves Arsenal sitting third in the Premier League, five points behind Manchester City at the top.
The draw was notable because Arsenal had to compete without several crucial players, including William Saliba, who was suspended, and Martin Odegaard, who is recovering from an injury.
Other defensive players like Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori were also unavailable, adding to Arteta’s selection challenges.
During the game, Arsenal’s defensive difficulties deepened, with both Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber sustaining injuries.
In his discussion on The Rest is Football podcast, Henry praised Arteta’s flexibility in managing his team amid these challenges.
He emphasized how Arteta has made strategic changes to cover defensive gaps, such as deploying Thomas Partey as a makeshift right-back and using Timber on the left.
Henry noted Arteta’s adaptability in adjusting his tactics based on the players available, showing his ability to keep Arsenal competitive even with several first-choice players sidelined.
However, Henry voiced concerns about Arsenal’s depth in attack, particularly pointing to Gabriel Jesus as a potential issue.
Signed from Manchester City in 2022 for £45 million, Jesus was expected to bring a significant attacking boost.
Despite showing promise, his impact has been limited, partly due to recurring injuries that have hindered his form.
So far, Jesus has contributed 19 goals and 15 assists in 80 appearances for Arsenal, but his recent form has been worrying.
This season, Jesus has yet to score or register an assist in 11 matches, a situation Henry suspects could be causing Arteta some frustration.
In contrast, Kai Havertz, a relatively recent addition to Arsenal, has taken on a more prominent role in attack.
Havertz has stepped up, scoring six goals and providing an assist in 13 games.
This shift has resulted in Jesus mainly appearing off the bench, while wingers Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have been Arteta’s other options in the forward line.
Henry believes Arsenal could benefit from bringing in an additional forward, which would reduce the pressure on Havertz and give Arteta more options up front.
Henry’s suggestion reflects a broader concern about Arsenal’s reliance on a limited set of attacking players.
He thinks that adding another forward could relieve some of the burden on Havertz, allowing Arsenal to vary their attack and avoid over-relying on any one player.
Jesus will have another opportunity to end his scoring drought in Arsenal’s upcoming Carabao Cup match against Preston on Wednesday, where he’ll be aiming to regain his form and make a stronger contribution to the team.
