As the Premier League season gathers momentum, the spotlight turns to Arsenal’s upcoming clash with Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium this weekend, and a bold prediction from Jamie Carragher has sparked widespread debate.
The former Liverpool defender has suggested that Mikel Arteta may drop new signing Viktor Gyokeres for the match, a move that left Gary Neville “couldn’t believe it” during a recent punditry discussion.
Carragher’s Bold Call
Carragher’s analysis centers on Gyokeres, the £64 million striker acquired from Sporting CP this summer, who has yet to fully integrate into Arteta’s system. Despite scoring in pre-season and being hailed as a potential game-changer, Carragher argues that Arteta might opt for Kai Havertz as the central striker against Liverpool, citing the German’s versatility and familiarity with the squad.
"He can't leave Gyokeres out of big games"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 18, 2025
"He can"@Carra23 and @GNev2 debate who should start up front for Arsenal 🔴 pic.twitter.com/bc4bvJCXuy
Neville’s Shock Reaction
Gary Neville, Carragher’s fellow pundit on Sky Sports, was visibly taken aback by the suggestion. Neville, who has praised Arsenal’s summer business—including £200 million spent on Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, and others—argues that benching the striker so early could undermine confidence in a player expected to spearhead their attack. He pointed to Gyokeres’ 43 goals in 50 appearances for Sporting last season as evidence of his readiness.Neville’s disbelief is compounded by Arsenal’s need to counter Liverpool’s formidable defense, led by Virgil van Dijk. “You need a focal point like Gyokeres to stretch them,” Neville added, suggesting Arteta might regret the decision if Havertz struggles to hold the line.