Yokeres' form was completely flat! Arsenal's draw against Liverpool and Gary Neville's criticism deemed ineffective.
On 9 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Victor Yokeres faced criticism again after a disappointing performance in Arsenal's 0-0 home draw with Liverpool at Emirates Stadium, missing the chance to extend their Premier League lead to 8 points.
The Swedish striker, whom Arsenal paid over £63.5 million hoping he would be a key piece in the title challenge, was almost invisible in the big game. Throughout the match, he touched the ball only 8 times, including the kick-off, which sums up his 64-minute contribution.
0 goals / 0 assists
0 shots
0 duels won
0 successful dribbles past opponents
6 of 7 passes completed
Yokeres was substituted off in the 64th minute for Gabriel Jesus, drawing some boos from fans as he left the pitch. Gary Neville, Sky Sports expert and former Manchester United defender, bluntly criticized Yokeres, saying, "It's no surprise. He had no influence on the game all night and barely contributed to the team."
This season, Yokeres has scored very few Premier League goals, with two goals dating back to August. His last open-play goal in all competitions was on 1 November. In his last 10 matches across all competitions, he has scored only once—a penalty in the game against Everton.
Meanwhile, with Gabriel Jesus fit again and Kai Havertz close to returning, questions about the starting striker position have arisen. However, Mikel Arteta affirmed that Yokeres' problems are not about internal competition. "It's not about pressure or competition. Sometimes scoring depends on timing and luck, which will come naturally. What's important is that the team continues to play well and secure results."