Viktor Gyokeres' behind-scenes behaviour says a lot as he responds to brutal Gary Neville remark - The Mirror

Viktor Gyokeres made it eight goals for the season for Arsenal as he helped the Gunners to a 3-2 win over Chelsea in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final

Viktor Gyokeres' goal against Chelsea on Wednesday night was the perfect response to Gary Neville's criticism. The Swede was instrumental in Arsenal's win over their city rivals in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, with Ben White and Martin Zubimendi grabbing the other goals to secure a 3-2 triumph.

However, things hadn't exactly been running smoothly for the striker since his arrival at Arsenal in the summer. Gyokeres has managed just eight goals in all competitions, with his most recent strike before Wednesday coming in a 1-0 win over Everton in December.

These struggles were criticised by former Manchester United defender Neville, who believes Gyokeres needs to improve. During a 0-0 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League, the 27-year-old was substituted for Gabriel Jesus around an hour in and Neville made his feelings clear.

He said: "Not a surprise, that. He's been ineffective, and that's being kind. It's a really poor night from him; he offered nothing. Look, there's not getting service, and then there's getting involved in the game and doing more; he needed to do more."

The former right-back continued his criticism of Gyokeres on The Gary Neville Podcast as he said: "I just thought, come on, be more of a battering ram. We've become used to, at times, centre-forwards not getting involved in the game as much and not contributing as much in general play. But what they have to be is in the right position in the box.

"They have to be making runs across the goalkeeper, across the near post. They have to make sure that they're charging in and sliding in the six-yard box when that ball gets fired across.

"And he didn't do that bit. That's the bit I'm disappointed with him in.

"If you're not doing that, you've got to then do the other bit, which is the ugly bit of pressing and harassing and holding the ball up. But I don't think he contributed anything, really, to the game tonight as a centre-forward for Arsenal."

Gyokeres' goal on Wednesday was the perfect response to the ex-United man's criticism and it has been clear from the get-go that the Swede is desperate to impress. After signing for Arsenal, the forward was backed by an ex-teammate who believes his ultra-competitive nature in training is what sets him apart from the rest.

Ben Sheaf, an ex-Arsenal academy graduate and current Wrexham midfielder, shared the pitch with Gyokeres at Coventry City and told The Athletic just how seriously the striker takes training drills.

He said: "When he came [on loan from Brighton], he was in and out of the team and showed glimpses of quality. He signed permanently after the first loan, and he came back having put more muscle on and was even more physical.

"He was relentless with how much he practised. He’d do a lot of finishing drills after training. I remember once in training, we did 11-v-11, and the ball got thrown into him when I was playing against him.

"He pinned and rolled me, and I just couldn’t do anything about it. That was the first time I remember thinking, 'Blimey, this is what opposition teams are going to feel.' That was the first time I felt his physicality.

"He was always ultra-competitive in training," Sheaf added. "He’d throw his toys out of the pram if we didn’t win a small-sided game.

"He’s a serious guy until you get to know him and he opens up. He’s a good lad but he’d be arguing in training, always wanting to win and doing finishing drills after — absolutely t**ting balls in."