Thierry Henry gives Gyokeres advice as he brilliantly breaks down how Arsenal star should have scored vs Athletic Bilbao

THIERRY HENRY was not happy with Viktor Gyokeres after the Arsenal striker wasted an opportunity to put his side ahead against Athletic Club last night.

The Swede, who has taken Henry’s No14 shirt, had a clear run at goal midway through the first half of Tuesday’s Champions League game but was pushed wide before only managing to shoot straight at goalkeeper Unai Simon.

Compared to the efficiency of Gabriel Martinelli in a similar situation late on, Henry was critical of Gyokeres.

He said on American broadcaster CBS after the match: “I talked about Gyokeres and how, if you remember, when I paused, Martinelli is ahead of the defenders [and scored].

“This is what I’m talking about and he has to bring to his game. There’s no way, right now, that the defender should catch you.”

Gyokeres had another quiet night and was taken off shortly after the hour mark with just 19 touches and six completed passes.

He was replaced by Leandro Trossard, who scored Arsenal’s second to seal the win.

Gyokeres took a nasty blow to the head and played some of the match with a large bandage across his forehead.

He did manage four shots despite limited involvement but Henry wanted to see a more clinical edge.

He continued: “Obviously he’s going to be onside. What I’m trying to say is that the ball has to go here [across the defender].

“There’s no way that those guys should catch you if you take care of the ball properly. 

“He’s going to have two chances to do it. He won’t do it. He doesn’t even look at what’s happening. He’s praying. They are praying. But that first touch is not going to be good.”

When asked by Micah Richards if it’s a confidence issue, Henry replied: “Yes, yes. Look, we all know that he’s been scoring, but away from home, that has to be a goal.

“Martinelli made it a goal and he didn’t have the space that he [Gyokeres] had.

“He didn’t take the ball well. There is no way, from what we saw on the halfway line, that you’re going to put your hand on me to make sure that I’m not going to unleash and have a one-on-one.

“He should have had a one-on-one. [If] you miss, you miss. But he should have had a one-on-one.”

Henry was then asked if it is the sort of situation that Arsenal will need to score if they are to win the Champions League.

He answered: “Hopefully it will happen but I’m just saying this is the difference between going 1-0 up and still staying 0-0.”

Henry also put the pressure on his former side to claim silverware this season.

He added: “Now let’s all be honest, it’s a must this year to win something. It’s a must. You can’t hide.

“You have to win something. If you talk about what has been done recently, finishing second never gave you a trophy, it’s great, but at some point you’ve got to validate what you are doing.”