Viktor Gyokeres hardly staked a strong claim for a place in the starting lineup ahead of Arsenal's clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Emile Heskey reckons Viktor Gyokeres still has a role to play for Arsenal, just not in the starting lineup. The 28-year-old striker, whom the Gunners signed from Sporting for £64million last year, has fallen widely short of expectations at the Emirates Stadium, falling behind Kai Havertz in the pecking order.

Although Gyokeres has already featured 11 times for Arsenal across all competitions this season, he's made just five starts, with two of which coming in the third and fourth rounds of the Carabao Cup. Despite his best efforts, often from off the bench, the Sweden international has only scored once.

In fact, Gyokeres bagged his solitary goal on Tuesday night, when the Gunners lost to Fleetwood Town on penalties, bundling the ball over the line from close range after an initial miskick. Although he's failed to warrant his eye-watering price tag, Heskey does not believe Arsenal should cut their losses.

Discussing the striker situation in north London, the 48-year-old said: "I like Havertz's movement and what he brings to this Arsenal team. I watched him when he was at Chelsea, and I liked his movement, his link-up play and everything about his game.

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"Gyokeres is a little bit different to the way that Arsenal want to play; he’s not that brilliant at holding the ball up and bringing in others; he prefers to play on the shoulder and run into space, but that space comes at a premium in the Premier League.

"I was hoping it would work out for him, but you can see why it hasn’t. He's more of an old-school type of centre-forward. I wouldn't tell Arsenal to cut their losses, because you’re always going to need a backup with the number of games they will play, and you always need a player that gives you that versatility to play against a different sort of style."

Heskey added: "I definitely wouldn't say cut your losses, but I can't see him being a regular, if I'm honest."

Earlier this month, Arteta overlooked Gyokeres and named Havertz as his 30-goal-a-season man. The Spaniard said: "He has that ability. That is why he is playing there as well, and that is why we signed him.

"He needs that volume of games and actions, and if you give him that, I am a big believer that yes, he can do it. His football IQ is something else. He understands everything at such speed, and he can break down information better, probably than anyone else on the team.

"That's something that's not easy to say, especially when we talk about a striker. He was out for a long period of time last season and to get back at the highest level is not easy and it can take time.

"But Kai has done it almost immediately from pre-season, and I'm not surprised because his mentality is top. I value him a lot."

When asked about Gyokeres and whether he's low on confidence, Arteta said: "That's a very personal question. What he transmits to me is an incredible will and determination and work-rate to improve and help the team.

"That's Viktor every single day, regardless of his position, whether he scores a goal or not, and that's why he's always an option to play. We are trying to help him as much as possible.

"He has some very good moments, but it's very small margins, and scoring, or not scoring, changes the narrative."

Gyokeres has started each of the last two games for Arsenal, and he's hardly staked a strong claim for a place in the starting lineup on Sunday afternoon. So, when the Gunners face Liverpool at Anfield, Havertz will hope to resume duties in the frontline.