When Viktor Gyokeres was absent for Arsenal’s match against Sunderland, his absence was felt immediately, as the team struggled to press as effectively as they do when he is on the pitch. The Swedish striker has been widely praised for his work rate and relentless movement, making him a constant challenge for opposing defenders. His ability to defend from the front is an important component of Mikel Arteta’s tactical system and contributes significantly to Arsenal’s overall strategy.
Despite these qualities, Gyokeres’s defensive contributions are not the primary reason Arsenal invested heavily to secure his services from Sporting Club. The club pursued him primarily for his goalscoring record, having scored nearly 100 goals over two seasons, and expectations were high that he would replicate that output at the Emirates. Fans and pundits alike anticipated that his arrival would add a potent attacking threat capable of consistently finding the back of the net.
Gyokeres’s Goalscoring Struggles
However, the striker has yet to deliver on those expectations in terms of goals. While his pressing and defensive work are valuable, they do not substitute for the primary role of a forward, which is to score. Arsenal’s victories cannot fully compensate for a lack of contributions in front of goal, particularly given the investment made in securing Gyokeres’s transfer. The contrast between his prolific scoring record at Sporting Club and his current struggles in front of goal at Arsenal has raised concerns about whether he will meet the standards expected of him.
If Gyokeres is unable to find consistent goal-scoring form, it may affect both his reputation and his long-term legacy at the club. Comparisons are already being drawn to other high-profile signings, such as Kai Havertz, whose contributions in terms of goals and overall impact have been more consistent. For Gyokeres to be considered a success, he will need to replicate his scoring exploits from Portugal and demonstrate the clinical edge that initially attracted Arsenal’s attention.
Future Prospects at Arsenal
Moving forward, the focus will be on whether Gyokeres can adapt to the Premier League and begin converting chances regularly. While his defensive work and pressing are valuable, Arsenal require him to fulfil his primary role as a goalscorer to justify the expectations placed upon him. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether he can achieve that balance and contribute fully to the team’s ambitions, or whether he will be remembered primarily for his defensive effort rather than his attacking output.
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He is not tricky enough to dribble past huge EPL CBs as Jesus does, nor can he outpaces/ outmuscles/ outjumps the likes of Konate/ Van Dijk as Haaland does
He can’t do any of those stuff to create his own chances, so he should at least do incessant high-press to help our defenders
If our CF doesn’t press relentlessly, our defense will suffer as happened when Aubameyang led our front-line
Martin, do you not consider that his physical presence and the threat opposition defenders perceive he presents, mes that he is often double marked and provides more space and opportunities for Saka, Martinelli, Trossard and Eze?
Also it is obvious that defences in the EPL are physically stronger than those found in Europe, even surpassing the Italian league, which were the benchmarks in the past.
As for GAI, I believe that his comments on Gyokeres, his name is a misnomer!
While he was indeed signed to score, his robust performance in other areas makes him a more complete and valuable player for the Arsenal outfit.
That’s exactly what I would say
Any player can press with the right conditioning and coaching so anyone playing should be doing the same job
Yes, in theory…
Obviously not any player ,as Arsenal press is suffering when he is not in the side
I believe the goals will come for him. He has not found his rythym completely yet. Once he blends in with the team the goals will come.
Our 3 strikers are good with pressing but are not the most clinical so I hope Gyokeres changes that notion.
Martin,
I f you think that Gyokeres is going to show the goal scoring prowess he showed in Portugal, you’re going to be in for a long wait I’m afraid.
The Premier League is a different level to the Portuguese league. While I feel he will get his fare share of goals given some more time, to expect the same levels is just fantasy. Although that said we can all hope can’t we.
For me, he’s doing some good things. But for him to start at least becoming a more consistent goal scorer, the team need to give him better service. If and when that happens, we should hopefully start to at least see the goal scoring striker that we think he is.
I disagree with this notion.Give him time.Look at Isaka at Liverpool he is not scoring goals now.But at Newcastle he was scoring week in week out
I agree, and I would add it’s not only the lack of service. He’s also being closely marked by higher quality defenders, and as a forward who was able to run up high numbers based largely on his physical power in Portugal, he’s still clearly acclimatizing to that. He’s doing most things right and Arteta still has confidence in him. He’s scored a few already and the team is getting better at working with him, so there will be many more hopefully.
I think he was signed for both. Gone are the days when a centre forward’s job was just to score goals. Even Haaland, the goal machine,does more than score goals.
Our most recent CF’s( Jesus,Havertz and Gyokeres) have incredible work rate so it must be a big part of the job.
As for goals, you just need to look at what other strikers are doing. Leave Haaland out of it because he’s an alien.
Igor Thiago has 8, Mateta& Welbeck have 6 but these strikers don’t face the kind of low blocks Gyokeres faces weekly. They are also not new to the Prem.
Gyok,Salah ,Joao Pedro,Richarlison& Woltemade have 4,Ekitike has 3 and Sesko has 2. I think he’s doing alright.
I think those who are disappointed expected Haaland type numbers but that was never going to happen.If we win the Prem, no one will care how many goals he scores as long as he contributes to wins.
Yeah this line made me chuckle: “expectations were high that he would replicate that output at the Emirates.” Um, sorry? Who? I don’t recall anyone thoughtful expecting him to run up anything similar in the EPL…
The article mentions Havertz who was roundly criticised until his worth was realised. The same will apply to Gyokeres who works hard and is part of a set up that doesn’t require a goal hanger. There are other forward players who are more than capable of scoring and Calafiori and Gabby are too. Its a team effort
We complained at almost everything. We complained about Jesus not scoring enough goals, Harvertz was highly criticized, not it’s Gyokeres even when he has contributed to Arsenal winning games. At least he has scored goals.
Why not give this guy time and don’t put pressure on him.
Arsenal is still leading and also take note of Arsenal style of play and the premier league which is completely different from the Portuguese league!
Let us appreciate all our players, at least for now that we are leading. Please!
Your asking the impossible Ayan.
Some fans have to have at least one scapegoat every season and after every loss.
If it’s not the owner, it’s the manager, or the medical staff, or a player, or even the atmosphere at the Emirates!!!!!
He needs better service, then we can judge him better. In the meantime, l still think we look a better team with him in it.
I wish football was played in the way of opinions ..
Pundits ,journalists,fans are all good at analysing /judging footballers.
V.G is a fantastic player in his own right upon signing definitely we were not assuring ourselves of at least 2&1/2 goals in 3 games .
This is because#1 Arsenal needs to adapt to VG’s playing style, vice versa.
#2 Coaches need enough time to find the best way to utilise him.
There are so many factors which need to be considered.
His goal return so far has not been a disaster given one is still fitting in new surroundings . If we miss out on silverware this term we definitely cannot point fingers on him
👍CVM, spot assessment.
Pundits should stop fussing about Victor’s lack of goals and leave him to settle in and gel well.Kai also went through a torrid time in his first games but eventually found rhythm and now he’s a prolific striker. Victor will also get to find goals very soon in his next games he will be bagging hattricks per game
You were like, since I have nothing to write about, why don’t I complain aimlessly about our own player, I can get a few traffic from it. You’ve succeeded, give it a rest.
I can say even Haaland will struggle in our system. I believe Gyokeres will be a better all-round player than Haaland. For me, first season let him have fun with smaller teams first.
My jury is still out on Gyokeres. Yes, we missed his brawn against Sunderland’s heavy duty defence, but that’s also because all we had to offer up from was a slightly concussed Merino. We’ll have a better idea of the Swede’s value once a fully fit Hartvetz returns. I’ve never been a fan of the latter, but my eagerness to see Hartvetz back pretty much gives you an idea of how I presently regard Gyokeres. Like Derek I think that his reputation as a goal machine was established whilst playing in a much weaker league. For him to increase his goal scoring rate our attack will have to create the tap in opportunities he requires.
Ioe.S and just maybe, Gyokeres scored more goals, because he had fully settled into the Portuguese league and the manager and his team mates played to his strengths?