Thierry Henry critiques Viktor Gyokeres after Arsenal's 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao

Thierry Henry delivered a detailed television critique of Viktor Gyokeres after Arsenal opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Athletic Club in Bilbao.

The Gunners' depth was underlined as Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, both introduced from the bench, scored to secure the victory for Mikel Arteta's side. Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal from Sporting Lisbon in the summer for around £63 million, had an early opportunity to put the visitors ahead but failed to convert after a poor first touch closed the angle on an otherwise promising break.

Working as a pundit for CBS Sports, Henry used the tactical-analysis screen to explain where the Sweden striker went wrong. "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," Henry said, pointing to the area he believed Gyokeres should have targeted.

Henry described the miss as a combination of technical and confidence issues. "He's going to have two chances to do it," he added. "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." When fellow pundit Micah Richards asked if the problem was a confidence issue or a technical one, Henry replied: "Yes, yes. Look, we all know that he's been scoring, but away from home, that has to be a goal. He should have had a 1v1. I'm just saying this is the difference between going 1-0 up and still staying 0-0."

Despite the critique, Henry also urged patience with Gyokeres, noting the striker's track record and playing style. In a separate interview before the match he had praised Gyokeres's instinct and finishing, recalling a recent headed goal against Athletic Club and describing Gyokeres as "a proper No. 9." "He is not a Firmino type of 9 that's going to drop into midfield. He wants to be in the box, in between the posts, and he said it himself – please put the ball in the box and serve me," Henry said. "You have a guy that's a killer in the box – numbers don't lie – and you have a team that create a lot of chances, so it should be the perfect match, but you have to also understand that sometimes it doesn't click straight away."

Arsenal's win in Bilbao served as a confidence-boosting start to their continental campaign and highlighted the club's attacking options beyond a single centre forward. Martinelli's and Trossard's contributions from the bench emphasised the depth Arteta can call upon across a congested schedule that now spans domestic and European commitments.

Gyokeres's early-season form has been the subject of heightened scrutiny because of his transfer fee and prior goalscoring record in Portugal. Henry's television analysis was broadly welcomed by many supporters online, who said the former Arsenal striker had offered clear technical advice rather than criticism for its own sake.

Arteta and his coaching staff will now balance the need to integrate a high-profile signing with the immediate demands of match results. Gyokeres is expected to remain central to Arsenal's plans as a penalty-area threat; coaches will likely work on his first touch and decision-making in tight situations while the team aims to convert more of the chances it creates.

Arsenal travel next in the Premier League before returning to continental competition, offering further opportunities for Gyokeres to stake his claim and for the striker to apply the specific guidance Henry outlined on broadcast television.