He’s like Dennis Bergkamp and since Gyokeres is not doing well for now Arteta should start playing him let’s see what he has…He’s better than Gyokeres”: Arsenal legend Ian Wright names ONE Arsenal’s academy starlet as the only option for Arsenal since Gyokeres isn’t doing as expected

There is a squad depth at Arsenal that hasn’t been witnessed in years, with Mikel Arteta also boasting the meanest defence in the division – one which will look to emulate the great days of Adams, Campbell, Keown and the like.

For all the desire to try and replicate the heroics of Arsene Wenger’s glittering stars of the late 90’s and early 2000s, however, the question remains as to whether the Gunners truly have the firepower to end their Premier League barren run.

The defensive solidity is there – emphasised by having conceded just three times in seven top-flight outings this season – but a settled attacking unit is yet to be configured, not least on the left flank.

Even through the middle, the merits of Viktor Gyokeres’ marquee £63.5m capture are still being debated, with the Sweden star scoring just three goals in north London to date, after previously plundering 97 goals in just 102 outings for Sporting CP.

With a rich history of forwards to try and live up to, be it Thierry Henry or Dennis Bergkamp, the 27-year-old has plenty of work to do – just how can Arteta get the best out of him?

How Arteta can take Gyokeres to ‘Invincibles’ levels

The combination of Bergkamp and Henry is perhaps an unfair benchmark for any modern-day Arsenal forward line to try and live up to, with the dynamic duo having been the centre-piece of Wenger’s glorious side all those years ago.

While they may have actually only combined for 20 goals in their 216 matches together, as per Transfermarkt, the Henry-Bergkamp pairing was one of telepathy and genius, the pair dovetailing off each other beautifully to devastating effect.

The age of the strike partnership may have died a death, although with things having become far more direct this season in the top-flight, from set-piece reliance to repeated long throws, why not consider handing Gyokeres a centre-forward colleague moving forward?

With Martin Odegaard set to be out until mid-late November at least, there is a chance for Arteta to reconfigure his forward line in the Norwegian’s absence, partnering Gyokeres with a support act and leaving Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice to control the midfield.

In the case of Bergkamp and Henry, the pair fed off each other’s different strengths, with the Dutchman the technical, powerful presence, while his French colleague provided that electrifying pace and finishing prowess.

In the end, the former Ajax man evolved into just as much of a creator as a goal-getter for the Gunners, racking up 120 goals and 116 assists in all competitions.

Despite also contributing his own 108 assists, Henry’s brilliance was primarily as a finisher, as his record as the club’s all-time top scorer can attest to.

If Gyokeres – who showed in Lisbon just how devastating he can be – is to try and emulate such consistency in front of goal, he may well need his own Bergkamp figure alongside him.

Arsenal’s new Dennis Bergkamp

As already stated, the loss of Odegaard – alongside the playmaker’s dwindling form – has opened up the possibility of a reshuffle in the weeks and months to come, with Arteta blessed with a wealth of options to choose from.

The obvious pick would be to deploy Eberechi Eze in a number ten role, although the Englishman could look to make the left flank his own, amid the struggles for consistency regarding both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli.

Instead, with Eze shuffled out wide, a central role behind Gyokeres could soon be taken up by Kai Havertz, with the German international tipped to return next month, having been absent since undergoing knee surgery at the start of the campaign.

The ex-Chelsea man was memorably signed in 2023 to operate in an unorthodox left-sided number eight role, before ultimately transitioning back into a striking berth, ending last term with 15 goals in all competitions, despite again being hampered by injury.

With Gyokeres now in tow, the languid left-footer is less certain to feature as the attacking spearhead – even if Jamie Carragher suggested he may still do so in the “biggest games” – ensuring his route to game time could well come as something of a second striker or advanced number ten.

Arteta, for his part, has already suggested that Havertz and Gyokeres could play together, with the left-footed Havertz likely to slip into the right channel, while Gyokeres typically favours the left, as evidenced in his solo goal against Leeds United earlier this season.

“They can play together,” said Arteta in August. “Kai can play in different positions, as well.

“I think it elevates the quality in the squad, the goal threat that we have in the team, the options that we have to change and provide oppositions with a lot of problems.”

With Gyokeres stretching the play in that Henry-like manner, Havertz could then knit things together nicely more centrally, having previously been described by Paul Merson as a “Dennis Bergkamp kind of player” during his days at Stamford Bridge.

Not an out-and-out centre-forward, just like Bergkamp, the former Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid is capable of producing magic off the front, as shown in him ranking in the top 12% of European forwards for progressive passes made per 90, as per FBref.

While Arteta will have to wait to unleash such a tactic, as the 26-year-old steps up his return from injury, it would be intriguing to see if a new Bergkamp-Henry style pairing can take flight at the Emirates.