Whenever Arsenal and Manchester United went to war, the best forwards in the Premier League were usually involved.
Ian Wright, Dennis Bergkamp, Nicolas Anelka, Eric Cantona, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all have battle scars from those chaotic scraps in the 1990s before Thierry Henry and Ruud van Nistelrooy took the lead in the new millennium. Wayne Rooney joined the party, followed by Robin van Persie who eventually swapped north London for Manchester with the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez also having minor roles.
Last summer, Arsenal and United made additions they hoped would solve long-standing issues up front with Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko arriving on these shores. With just five and four Premier League goals respectively, there is a long way to go before they can join the pantheon of clubs greats who previously occupied their roles.
Gyokeres has just one goal from open play in his last 16 Premier League matches and while Mikel Arteta has kept faith in the Swede, the availability of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz again presents the Gunners boss with a dilemma ahead of Sunday’s clash at the Emirates.
Michael Carrick opted to bench Sesko for his first game in charge against Manchester City last Saturday despite the Slovenian scoring three goals in his previous two matches. Bryan Mbeumo instead led the line with United turning in their most vibrant and ruthless performance of the season.
Teddy Sheringham was also among that group of elite forwards in those absorbing battles for the Premier League title between 1997 and 2001, slotting home perhaps the second-most important goal in United’s history in that infamous Treble campaign.
It was a time when Sir Alex Ferguson could call upon four centre forwards with every team across the league playing two up front. The job nowadays is harder, and is one Sheringham doesn’t envy.
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‘Playing one up front is tough. It takes a certain type of player to play that no9 role on their own,’ Sheringham told Metro, speaking on behalf of speaking on behalf of BetMGM.
‘You have to lead the line, hold the ball up, run in behind, run the channels and score goals, it is a lot. It’s especially tough especially when your wingers cut in and don’t go down to the byline to provide crosses for you. Everyone cuts in and shoots, where is your service coming from?
‘You are getting through all this hard work to try hold the ball up and win headers and run in at the right time and you are expected to score goals all on your own out of nothing. The game has changed. I wouldn’t want to be playing that no9 role my own.’
After abandoning the Rasmus Hojlund project after just two years, United have turned to Sesko, a £74million signing from RB Leipzig having been on the radar of every major European club for a number of years.
There have been moments of promise during what has been another troubled season at Old Trafford but Carrick’s decision to opt for Mbeumo last week spoke volumes – Sesko was also benched in favour for Matheus Cunha away to Liverpool by Ruben Amorim earlier in the season.
Sheringham believes there is huge potential in the 22-year-old – but questions whether he can truly establish himself as the commanding presence the side need, also hoping to see Mbeumo lead the line again at the Emirates.
‘I hope so,’ Sheringham said when asked if Mbeumo should start ahead of Sesko. ‘I have really liked what Sesko has done. He has had a tough job, same as Hojlund going in there. He is a very good player but it takes a certain type of player to lead the line for Manchester United. The expectation levels are huge.
‘These two young lads haven’t come in like Eric Cantona did all those years ago with his chest puffed out years ago thinking, “I’m made for this situation”. Like Wayne Rooney did. Sesko and Hojlund have both come in thinking, “I’m a good player, but this Is a big place, I hope I do well”. And that is a big difference.
‘I think he will be a good player, just not a great player at the moment. Some of his touches and some of his finishes recently have been really nice, really clever goals. But you need the experience and confidence and without that, it is hard to lead the line.’
Gyokeres scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting CP but has looked laboured and a few steps off the class required to lead Arsenal’s attack. But goals against Chelsea and Inter in the last week could mark a possible turning point with Sheringham believing the qualities that are pleasing Arteta will ensure he keeps his place in the side.
‘Gyokeres is still the focal point doing his job for the team,’ he said. ‘The average punter will be asking how many goals is he scoring but he is doing what is asked of him. They are top of the Premier League, Champions League, in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and still in the FA Cup. He must be doing something right for the team and that is what it is all about for Arsenal right now.
‘Take him out of the team, put Gabriel Jesus or Mikel Merino in there, they might not play the role quite as well. They will drop off and sometimes you need to press the two centre-halves back and he is doing that job.
‘They have players in other positions scoring plenty so it is not all on the centre forward. But he still has to lead the line, keep the centre-halves pinned back and he does that, that is why Arteta sticks with him.’
