Arsenal News: Arteta Faces Trust Questions as Gyokeres Eyes Potential Sporting Showdown

Arsenal currently occupy top spot in the Premier League standings, but with Manchester City breathing down their necks, manager Mikel Arteta must ensure his entire roster maintains peak performance levels.

The North London club has enjoyed an impressive campaign across all competitions this season. After securing first place in their Champions League group, the Gunners are set to battle Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16 come March.

Speaking about maintaining concentration during this pivotal stretch, Arteta expressed optimism. "We have to live in the present and the present is beautiful," the Spanish tactician commented. "We are exactly where we want to be in every competition."

However, not all observers believe Arteta is managing his squad rotation effectively. Club legend Paul Merson has raised questions about the manager's approach to utilizing specific members of his team.

Merson Raises Doubts About Arteta's Player Management

The former Gunners midfielder believes Arteta lacks sufficient confidence in Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze, despite both attackers recently scoring twice in an impressive 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

During his appearance on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday, Merson highlighted how well the pair work together. "If these two hit fire until the end of the season, Arsenal win the league," he stated. "If they can go and be 8/10 every week."

Eze was recruited specifically to provide that special quality capable of breaking down stubborn defences in challenging matches. The talented midfielder possesses exceptional ball control and can weave through opposing defenders with remarkable ease.

For those following Arsenal's championship aspirations, the consistency of Gyokeres and Eze may prove decisive. Should Arteta fail to provide them with regular minutes, it could impact the Gunners' chances of fending off City during the final stretch.

Merson remains unconvinced about Arteta's trust levels. "I don't think he does [with] a lot of people," Merson elaborated. "I think Arteta plays on sparks where he'll watch someone do something wrong and, 'Oh, you're out of the team.'"

He referenced situations like Riccardo Calafiori experiencing one subpar performance before being sidelined. Similarly, Eze made a defensive error against Aston Villa and subsequently saw limited action.

Gyokeres Faces Potential Awkward Sporting Encounter

Meanwhile, an intriguing storyline is developing in the Champions League. Gyokeres could potentially face former employer Sporting CP should both clubs advance to the quarter-final stage.

The Swedish forward transferred to Arsenal last summer in a £64 million deal following a contentious departure from the Portuguese capital. His decision to skip pre-season training at Sporting generated significant controversy.

Gyokeres addressed the situation on Instagram during that period: "There's a lot of talk at the moment, most of it is false. I will speak when the time is right."

A reunion with his previous club now looms as a possibility. While Arsenal square off against Leverkusen, Sporting will face Bodo-Glimt in the round of 16. Victory in both fixtures would set up a quarter-final clash.

Sporting manager Rui Borges maintained there are no lingering grudges regarding Gyokeres' exit. "I wish him the best of luck in the world, he marked an era in our football," Borges commented.

The Portuguese manager did note, however, that such sentiments would vanish should the teams meet in European competition. This potential encounter could inject additional drama into Arsenal's already compelling Champions League journey.