{"id":240382,"date":"2026-04-26T05:15:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T05:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/26\/worse-than-gyokeres-arteta-must-drop-50m-arsenal-flop-who-lost-100-duels\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T05:15:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T05:15:12","slug":"worse-than-gyokeres-arteta-must-drop-50m-arsenal-flop-who-lost-100-duels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/26\/worse-than-gyokeres-arteta-must-drop-50m-arsenal-flop-who-lost-100-duels\/","title":{"rendered":"Worse than Gyokeres: Arteta must drop \u00a350m Arsenal flop who lost 100% duels"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Arsenal<\/a> held on to beat Newcastle United<\/a> and retake the lead in this thrilling Premier League<\/a> title race – two points ahead of Manchester City,<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Third time’s the charm, ay? The frustration was palpable after the Gunners dispatched two short-corner routines in the early knockings of the contest, but it was an example of Mikel Arteta Nicolas Jover’s shrewd thinking, with Eberechi Eze<\/a> finding space and rifling a special strike past Nick Pope.<\/p>\n

Still, Arsenal have struggled for fluency and sharpness in attack over the past several months, and it does feel like the injury sustained by Kai Havertz<\/a> in the first half could be significant, hampering a toiling frontline.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n How Havertz injury could impact Arsenal<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

With the pre-match preparations underway, it was a big show of faith from Arteta to have named Havertz at number nine ahead of Viktor Gyokeres<\/a>. The German is less of an out-and-out goalscorer, but more of a dynamic attacking outlet.<\/p>\n

However, the German failed to make it to half-time, falling after half an hour off the ball. It’s never good when a player goes down off the ball.<\/p>\n

What does this mean for Arsenal? You would think that Gyokeres will start the next string of pivotal Premier League games, yet his display against the Magpies was little to write home about, sloppy and unconvincing as the focal frontman.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

However, Gyokeres has shown throughout the season that he knows how to score goals, and while he should start going forward, another Gunners man has to be dropped after his latest poor performance.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Arteta must drop struggling Arsenal star<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Arsenal got the job done, and that’s all that matters. However, they still left a lot to be desired in attack, and while Gyokeres struggled, it was Noni Madueke<\/a> who was Arteta’s biggest weak link.<\/p>\n

Having signed from Chelsea for around \u00a350m last summer, Madueke has been a consistent presence in this title-chasing Gunners side, though he’s yet to show that the Londoners have received bang for their buck.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Noni Madueke’s Performance vs Newcastle<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Match Stats<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

#<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Minutes played<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

81′<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Goals + Assists<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0 + 0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Touches<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

38<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Shots (on target)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 (1)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Accurate passes<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

23\/24 (96%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Chances created<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Crosses completed<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0\/3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Succ. dribbles<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0\/3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Ball recoveries<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Duels won<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0\/8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Dribbled past<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2x<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

The fact that Madueke lost every single one of his eight contested duels emphasises the improvements that are needed. He is fleet-footed and slippery, but he lacks clarity and direction.<\/p>\n

Were the former Blues star a more prolific outlet, such foibles could be forgiven, but he has been profligate throughout the campaign and is proving a weak link in this Arsenal team. At least Gyokeres scores with comparative consistency, having clinched 18 in all competitions this season.<\/p>\n

After all, this was not an outlier but a microcosm of Madueke’s first season at the Emirates Stadium, with the 23-year-old having only scored one goal and assisted one more across 26 Premier League matches.<\/p>\n

Bukayo Saka replaced his England teammate after the 80th minute, and though it was a fleeting cameo for the north Londoners’ talisman, he was lively, watching as a well-worked shot was blocked and creating a chance besides.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"Bukayo-Saka-Arsenal\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The season has certainly approached the business end, and while Arteta will tacitly be frustrated with his side’s performance, claiming three points is all that matters at this stage of the term, with the Premier League title on the line.<\/p>\n

That said, it’s crucial that Saka returns to the starting line-up now after injury. Madueke isn’t playing well enough, and Arsenal are going to need to score more than one solitary goal at some point over the weeks ahead.<\/p>\n

\n\"Declan-Rice-Arsenal-Leverkusen\"\n <\/picture>\n

\n
\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\tBerta driving Arsenal bid to sign the new Declan Rice in \u00a3100m sensation
\n\t\t<\/a>
\n\t<\/h5>\n

Arsenal have their sights set on a coveted Premier League star this summer. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Arsenal held on to beat Newcastle United and retake the lead in this thrilling Premier League title race – two points ahead of Manchester City, Third time’s the charm, ay? The frustration was palpable after the Gunners dispatched two short-corner routines in the early knockings of the contest, but it was an example of Mikel […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":240383,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6808],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-240382","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=240382"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240382\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/240383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=240382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=240382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=240382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}