Before his next press conference, Mikel Arteta will no doubt tell the media that the recruitment policy at Arsenal is to only target world-class talent who can make his squad better, that we attempted to improve our attack, and that Gooners should be grateful that at least we tried.
One member of the dressing room who might be harder to reassure, though, is Viktor Gyokeres.
The 28-year-old is yet to play a second of Premiership football this season, with the assumption that his employers were trying to avoid any injury to protect his value just in case he needed to be transferred.
No one at the Emirates will publicly admit that, but common sense suggests that in the last campaign, when both fit, the Swede would often rotate with Kai Havertz. Rarely would one striker play the entire game without the other being introduced from the bench.
Now that the window is closed, the forward will start playing again.
Will Arteta Have to Backtrack?
Of course, our manager will maintain that who came off the bench in our last two fixtures was a sporting decision, but the Spaniard has had an issue with the truth when it suits him.
At the time, it certainly appeared our boss wanted Ozil to reach the point where he would agree to rip up his contract.
Our former captain has never been shy in washing his hands of talent the moment he feels they don’t suit his ethos and, even at times when it costs his employers money to do so, mostly gets his own way.
Gyokeres will prove to be a challenge to the 44-year-old’s ego because now he will have to backtrack.
How Does Gyokeres Feel?
Zero people are going to be happy knowing they are not valued at their workplace, especially having only been living in the English capital for a year.
Professionally and personally, the forward did a lot to leave Portugal. If he had known that his 21 goals wouldn’t be appreciated, he might not have pushed as much to depart a country where he was valued.
In Arteta’s own words, success can be decided by the smallest details.
How he managed this situation could cost the Gunners their chances of retaining the Prem, or more crucially, how he resolves it.
He’s frozen out a forward who contributed to ending a 22-year title drought, which is fine if the intention was to never select that player again, but now you have to rely on an individual whose confidence has been dealt a blow.
That’s the opposite of what a coach is meant to do.
How do you convince someone you believe in them when he knows that, if you had your way, he would be elsewhere?
Was This Situation Avoidable?
As it was reported that the Vinicius Jr. and Alvarez deals were unlikely, it begs the question: why would you risk making a CF feel unhappy without knowing for sure he wouldn’t be needed again?
The Swedish international still could have played while negotiations were going on, and this would have been avoided.
Now awkward conversations are to take place, and while it would be wrong to question anyone’s professionalism, it’s only natural the player will feel unsettled.
Andrea Berta has already made our attack weaker, so it’s the one area of the pitch we can’t afford to be messing around with an attacker’s confidence.
A problem that could have been avoided because it was a gamble that didn’t need to be taken.
Isn’t that our window in general regarding our attack?
Dan Smith
Have Your Say
Do you agree with Dan that Arsenal’s handling of Viktor Gyokeres has created an unnecessary problem for Mikel Arteta?
Can Arteta convince the striker that he remains an important part of his plans, or could the events of the transfer window have damaged that relationship?
Let us know what you think in the comments.
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I don’t think it’s good what Arteta has done to Victor Gyokeres’ confidence so far. I’m sure he now feels unloved and unappreciated by the manager, after not taking any part in the first two league games. Arteta could at least have used him as a second half substitute. At least give him some minutes.
Gyokeres needs to be given his chance it looks like very bad management. The team needs to play to his strengths otherwise what was the point in buying him?
How to make friends and influence people. Arteta at his devious and clinical best.
Havertz is simply better than Gyokeres for Arteta’s tactics, because Havertz plays false nine. Watch how Gyokeres killed many of our attacking moves last season because of his bad touches and reluctance to engage in aerial duels
The Swedish just scored 16 open play goals from 55 appearances last season. His other five goals were just penalties and he couldn’t create good assist/ pre-assist for his teammates
Gyokeres might be kept this season to give Arteta a real CF option if his false-nine tactics don’t work well in some games. He could also be assigned to the left wing if Tzolis and Eze aren’t available
@Gai, let’s cut Gyokeres some slack considering its his first season at Arsenal. A return of 21 goals in all competition is fair imo. And he can get better.
For recirds, Havertz output in his first season wasn’t any better and many fans were skeptical about his purchase. But he improved in second season check the stats. Havertz IMO isn’t the most lethal in front of goal and goes missing in games at times. But I admit he is technically better.
Gyokeres is better at competing with physical opposition on transition compared to Havertz and his work rate is good. Both have different strength and weakness. It’s up to Arteta to maximize both.
I do hope Gyokeres can improve his technical skills, aerial ability and duel-won rate for his own sake, but I don’t think he can increase his level based on the facts mentioned by @Sensible Gooner below
It’s Gyokeres who should adapt to Arteta’s tactics, not the other way around, because the gaffer’s system turned Arsenal into a football powerhouse in the last four seasons
@GAI, Actually Arsenal didn’t do well in not signing another attacker last summer. IMO Berta got his strategy wrong. Havertz is injury prone and I hope Saka stay fit. Madueke also needs to step up else, he should be sold season ending IMO.
Is it not because tactically the system that Arteta wants to play requires people who can occupy different positions at different moments in attack as long as Rice and Bruno are there to provide cover and break opponents attack. I think he wants to play with Merino,Saka, Harvetz Eze and Calafiori upfront for the reasons that there are dynamic and unpredictable. The other five players will be assigned to defensive duties. When facing lower table opposition he will resume hisTzolis, Gyokores system
Arteta is meticulous. Gyokeres stats last season don’t read as someone a meticulous manager can reliably build around at elite level. Some facts:
-Lost possession 43% of the time.
-Dual success rate was 33% (down from 50% in the Portugese league)
-Out of 33 eligible Premier League strikers who played more than 500 minutes, Gyökeres ranked 30th for overall duel success and 28th for aerial duels won.
-Scored 21 goals, 4 of which were penalties
-14 of the 21 were in the premier league, of which 3 were penalties.
-Of the 11 non-penalty goals in the PL: 1 was v Burnley (relegated), 2 were v Tottenham (almost relegated), 1 was v Forest (16th), 2 v Leeds (14th), 2 v Everton (13th), 1 v Fulham (11th) and 2 were v Sunderland (7th).
-Of the 7 non-premier league goals, 1 was in FA cup v Southampton, 1 was Carabao Cup vs Chelsea and 5 were in Champions League: 1 penalty vs Atletico in quarters, and in rounds, 1 vs FC Kairat, and 1 vs Inter Milan, and 2 goals vs Atletico.
-Separately, in his last season in the Portugese league – where the average weekly salary is less than £10,000 vs £70,000 in the premier league, 35% of his goals were penalties and zero were headers.
He improved later in the season, in general, he struggled against powerful centre-backs of the premier league, he lacks aerial threat, his technical skills aren’t great, and his goals mainly came against weaker opponents.
Again, sure hope Saka and Hazard stay fit, Eze and Madueke come good, and Tzolis adds more than Trossard and Martinelli.
Who cares about his first touch, hold up play, aerial duels, etc?
All we need is goals which lead to results. He scored them. We won the league.
Don’t forget we were ultra defensive last season. Which striker would have scored open play goals here?
And how many penalties did the likes of Haaland, Mbappe, Harry Kane, Osimhen etc score last season playing in attacking teams? More than Gyokeres. Do your findings
Not sure what “do your findings” means, but I took time to present actual stats.
Ignoring penalties noise, Haarland scored 24, Kane scored 26, Mbappe scored 17, Gyokeres scored 11.
In terms of “who cares” about the other stats – I reckon I would care if my striker lost the ball 43% of the time, struggled with duels (aerial or otherwise) and scoring against top teams.
I’m happy with Havertz starting matches – two scores in CL finals suggests a big game player, and he is technically strong. But in modern game there’s starters and finishers, you really need to use your subs.
I also think this is very early days of season to make a drama out of Victors minutes – Gyokeres can end up playing more games than Kai, and with a better goal return. Yes he can be better in second season at club.
We don’t know how people are training. That’s this other angle – we don’t know what we don’t know, but we do know it’s all part of Barcelona’s business model to seduce and unsettle players at other clubs, to push for a move, and maybe not top of their list, they may get 4 on the go at once fighting for just 1 spare teat.
@sensibleG, your stats details quite impressive but a bit focused on Gyokeres weakness than strength. Yes, Havertz is more technical but he isn’t really lethal in front of goals and goes missing in some games.
I think we should give Gyokeres this season before truthfully judging him. Let’s see if he can improve. Actually Arsenal didn’t do well in not signing another attacker last summer. IMO Berta got his strategy wrong.
imo its a bit too early to cast doubt over who’s playing rn, because our opponents are a little bit weaker, but if he doesnt start in the next few matches, i’d be worried…
2 games in and a lengthy hatchet on Arteta with Gyokeres’ absence as the catalyst. So are we to think there was a deeper meaning behind him not playing? Keeping him fit just in case he could be shipped out?
There seems to be a belief that Arteta is responsible lock, stock and barrel for this transfer window being deemed underwhelming. Implications are being made. Those 2 games produced 6 points which is more than can be said for Liverpool and Spurs so why not let the season develop a bit further before jumping straight in?
At any other time, Gyokeres would have been slated for pushing through his move to Arsenal and now he’s being painted as unloved by our arch egotist manager who brought the club its first league title win in a generation.
I for one think Arteta was pretty clear he wanted more in attack, even in his words post match day before window shut. My guess is, while they were best intentioned to buy Elite forward, it all ended up a bit of a cluster.
Sensible Gooner
I take your point entirely and reading between the lines from your comment, it was a “failure “ by the club and not one person. Arteta isn’t a dictator and as such answers to other senior management cum board members. They all play a role
Thanks for being the voice of reason here SueP.
Seems Evil Mik named Sad Vik in his Champions League squad, so maybe it’s all better now!
👍
Gyokeres’ issues aside …….
As far as decision making and strategic planning is concerned at management level, looks like we’ve got some long way to go!!
Considering how we got eternally linked with Alvarez ….. Nico Williams and Lautaro Martinez at the same time we are shipping out Martinelli and with nothing much to show in forwards recruitment ………. we’re pathetically so static and we consistently behave like a 1-trick pony !!!
Quite inconsistent with the champions we are …..
The Alvarez saga is a big stain on Berta.
I saw an article this morning saying that we’re bracing up to go after him again in January.
I want to believe it’s all media rumour
May be there’ll always be plenty of such rumours.
It’s heartbreaking that, we almost always end up with the glaringly obvious recruitments or next to nothing of note …… then such rumours begin to be offensive!!
Nothing to prove our management are certain of making us a dominant force to reckon with all-round!!
Gyokeres should be given game time because we should not forget he was the highest goal scorer last season so he diserve more game than anyone
“so he diserve more game than anyone”
Than anyone???
I could think of at least 12 other players who might not agree, but he does deserve a little more respect, especially since he doesn’t publicly complain about his situation.
Gyokeres’ issue is not an issue I believe, after the club’s failure to buy elite forward/LW there is no way gyok won’t have game time.
And Eze being deployed to the LW is a good thing, something I’ve always been saying sin e that I see eze as a wing10 and not central10.
Although he’s performance lately hasn’t been so good but I hope he’ll find his mojo back in Lw
And i’m not convinced with tzolis yet
I still can’t believe the club didn’t sign any attacker, a very annoying thing but we are the champion , I can’t be mad at the club now
COYG
“so he diserve more game than anyone”
Than anyone???
I could think of at least 12 other players who might not agree, but he does deserve a little more respect, especially since he doesn’t publicly complain about his situation.
Play Marino.
Frozen out?
It has been two games when we have been playing once a week.
He was worked like a dog last autumn as Havertz and Jesus wete injured and suffered for it. He was far better after Xmas.
We will soon see him back in the team and scoring goals
Viktor is a strong personality, and will be useful over the
season..
Were Arsenal Relegated Last Season….!!!
No – They won the Premier League.
Last May – M A was virtually the greatest man on Planet Earth.
Now – He’s getting slaughtered in almost every article that gets posted.
Everyone’s disappointed that we didn’t get the
L W and Striker position’s better covered.
Everyone’s entitled to their opinions, but objectively, the season is only 2 Games old – Arsenal have won them both – with clean sheets.
Opinions are split, and that’s healthy,
We still have a strong enough team to get us through successfully to January, when the squad can be bolstered again)
Chelsea have strengthened their attack, – Arsenal have the Best Meanest defence in the P L.
Chelsea are soft at the back – Apart from Havertz & Gyokeres, we have potential goals from several other players (and yes, the same applies to Chelsea)
If Arsenal can exploit their defensive ‘weaknesses’, and make home advantage count, there’s no reason why Arsenal can’t come away with all 3 points.
I’m expecting a tight close game and a 1 – 0 Arsenal Win.
Let’s look at the positives – there are negatives, but Let’s Focus on the Positives.
I believe Arsenal’s failure in the transfer market regarding attackers is a collective thing by the club. They’ve all got egg on their faces.
I don’t always believe what the club says regarding recruiting certain big names players. I’m not entirely convinced they were ever truly in for Vinicius Junior, Alvarez maybe has more to it.
But even in the Arsene Wenger days I suspected that they just appeared to be going for a big name. I believed that they would put a bid in knowing that said club would turn it down. And then say we tried.
One of the biggest examples of this I can remember was Luis Suarez at Liverpool. Apparently Arsenal thought they’d be clever and offer Liverpool 1 pence over his get-out clause in his contract, this it was said infuriated Liverpool and the deal was never done. It was also reported that Suarez was willing to join us to.
No, maybe I’m sinical. But it’s not the first time that the club claim to be going for these players, when in reality there not.
The time wasted in this transfer window has been pathetic, and I just hope the team don’t suffer because of it.
On the other hand, when there is zero possibility to buy elite players, they actually don’t waste their time. You never see them going after obviously untouchable players like Kvara or Mbappe for example. The players they DO go for are potential deals. They’re in the mix for players like Vini or Alvarez because something positive *might* happen, not that it *will*…
The other approach of course would be to target level-maintaining or floor-raising players. They do that also, players like Tzolis, and since we’re already at the top, excellent players like Guimaraes and Konsa. As well as building a pipeline of good youth players.
Another way to go, as it seems you’re suggesting, would be to not spend any energy chasing truly elite-level players that have contract issues at their current club and might leave. That makes it easier, but it’s a decision that means adding more prospects like Fernandez-Pardo or Tzolis for example, instead of a demonstrably elite winger. They can’t make promises they might not be able to keep to a player that they’ll buy them if the chase for an elite player fails.
They also can’t spend £50-60m on a Fernandez-Pardo early in the window, without giving up the chase for say an Alvarez, because if they then get Alvarez, suddenly Fernandez-Pardo doesn’t play much or gets left out of the squad entirely, and it looks like they jumped the gun and spoofed away club money. This is how Chelsea operate, as a highly transactional club. It’s not “the Arsenal Way”. So we’re always going to keep targeting ceiling-raising elite players as long as possible and keep a list of others as fall backs. Problem is, every club below us in the rankings is tracking these players too, so usually the best non-ceiling-raising fall backs for us, get bought as ceiling-raisers for the likes of Spurs.
It is more of management failure to me, they stuck to a decision and paid the consequence.
1. Josh said champions don’t stand still, he was right, but didn’t count on going backwards.
Sell Trossard and Martinelli and only bring in Tzolis is weakening the attack, Eze and Madueke not enough despite hype by the club.
Should have wrapped Rodgers up for LW straight away. Instead sat on the money, cost too much.
I mean Rodgers numbers the last 2 years in PL far better than Barcola’s numbers in French league or Alvarez in Spanish league.
Big fail by Berta in my opinion, and the board. Arteta has input, maybe he agreed on gambling on Alvarez, maybe not.
We came away with nothing, actually weakening our attack. Laughable some think Eze is a legitimate answer on LW or Madueke. Reserve backup players, feeling like 2024 – 2025 season all over again.
Berta isn’t responsible for financing deals.
You would have spent £117m for Morgan Rogers, but Richard Garlick wouldn’t, is what this comes down to.
If so, then that would go directly against what Josh Kroenke posted about Champions not standing still.
And secondly, to deny a 117 million deal for Rodgers, but allow Berta to chase Alvarez for 130 million is the epitome of stupid.
Rodgers stats in the PL so far dominate what Alvarez produced in a weaker league.
Rodgers PL experience and production at Villa surpasses anything Alvarez put up at mighty City.
Stupid call by Garlick if that’s the case;
Younger, better numbers, cheaper fee, less wages, fits in with National teammates; compared to Alvarez.
Agree on Roger’s Durand ,should have got Barcola in aswell IMO
Cock heavy defensive football I foresee this season again .
Barcola only wanted the Bindippers.
How many injuries in attack can we afford? 1 or 2? Saka injured and Havertz, then what? 8 defenders start?
Amateurish I must say. Everyone knew we had to strengthen the attack, and we sell two Gabriels and a Vieira, and bring in one Tzolis.
So Eze or Madueke are the solution? Then why even chase a LW in the first place, if they can get it done. It is settling and making excuses.
I remember a January window like this, 2025 maybe, not sure. How did that season end?
So, roll the dice and hope it works out this time? Wait until this January then chase Kroupi? Alvarez again?
Failed to improve the attack yet again, our boys need to be made of steel, can’t afford injuries in the attack.
Was this Dan’s first “ripped up contract/Ozil, my dear sweet Ozil” post of the season? I am surprised that winning the EPL pushed it all the way to week 3, I was guessing after week 1.
It was Gykorese first season last season. He had a poor start and slowly improved by the end of the season. I won’t judge him by his first season.
Some players take time to adapt
For 25/26, Gyokeres scored a total of 21 goals including 14 premier league goals, 5 CL goals
This isn’t terrible for his first season
Henry’s first season, he had 26 total goals including 17 PL goals
So he scored just 3 PL goals more than Gyokeres
Also we wouldn’t have won the PL title or make it to CL Final without Gyokeres goals
I expect him to do even better this season
Please Give him at least 1 more season to prove himself
He was also our highest goal scorer- So he was vital for us winning the PL