Thierry Henry rips into Viktor Gyokeres despite Arsenal win - 'There's no way'

Thierry Henry didn't hold back when criticising Viktor Gyokeres' performance against Athletic Club. The Gunners were forced to huff and puff, but eventually secured a 2-0 win on the opening night of the Champions League.

Gyokeres started the game for Arsenal, but was substituted off after 65 minutes with the visitors chasing the elusive first goal. It arrived just minutes after the Swedish striker left the pitch, with his replacement, Leandro Trossard, slipping through fellow substitute Gabriel Martinelli for the opener.

During an analysis piece, the Gunners legend compared Gyokeres and Martinelli's starting positions for respective chances, with Henry unhappy about Arsenal's £64million signing. Speaking on CBS's Champions League coverage, he said: "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."

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Micah Richards was alongside Henry in the studio, with the ex-Manchester City ace asking the Frenchman if it was a confidence issue or pointed towards a more serious problem. Henry continued: "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, he didn't take the ball well."

Pointing to how the defender had reached Gyokeres before he got his shot away, Henry continued: "There is no way from the halfway line you're [the Athletic defender] are going to put your hand on me. He should have had a one-v-one. I'm just saying this is the difference between going 1-0 up and still staying 0-0."

Gyokeres has netted three times in the Premier League so far this season, scoring twice from open play and once from the penalty spot. He'll have to be on top form this weekend when the north Londoners welcome former European champions Manchester City to the Emirates Stadium.

It's an early test of Arsenal's title credentials and a game Mikel Arteta will be eyeing up three points in, having already lost to Liverpool this term. Arsenal have finished second for three seasons in a row, and after spending north of £270m this summer, the pressure has been intensified.