Viktor Gyökeres would have hoped to grab the headlines on Sunday against Manchester United, and he did, but not for all the right reasons.
For a player many expected to be an instant hit, his Premier League debut proved underwhelming. In 60 minutes on the pitch, he failed to register a single shot, managed just 21 touches, and posted a pass completion rate of only 44%.
The statistics highlighted his struggles, and the English media did not sugar-coat his display, despite Arsenal securing a vital 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
What The Media Said
Nathan Salt of the Daily Mail wrote: “Worked hard and occasionally bullied Yoro with his strength, but an underwhelming debut.”
Matt Verri of the Evening Standard commented: “A couple of loose touches and no shots before being replaced on the hour. Struggled with hold-up play, leaving Arsenal without an out-ball.” He rated Gyökeres 5/10.
Tom Coley of Football London reflected: “In a game that was not lacking in narrative – especially when it came to the two strikers on show (or not, as it happened, with Benjamin Šeško left on the bench) – it was not the ideal start.”
Max Mathews of The Athletic added: “Did not do nearly enough on the ball despite charging around. Was jeered off by the United fans. A disappointing full debut.”
Still Time To Shine
Gyökeres may not have enjoyed the best of starts, but he was not the only striker to falter. Benjamin Šeško, who remained on the bench for United, also failed to make an impact. Arsenal as a team looked below their usual standards, and few players stood out on the day.
For Gyökeres, there is little doubt about his goalscoring pedigree. With 97 goals across the past two seasons, he has already proved his ability to find the net consistently. Rivals should not write him off, as Mikel Arteta will be eager to unlock the “goal-scoring monster” within him in the weeks to come.
What do you think Gooners? Was Gyökeres simply suffering first-day nerves, or do his struggles hint at a longer adaptation period?
Your thoughts welcome in the comments.
Daniel O
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Every Arsenal fan knows there is bias towards Arsenal, we didn’t play well but we won, last season we would have drawn or lost that game, Man Utd never look like scoring, amd the ref was a joke. He let a lot slide including the elbow on Zubimendi, and slabhead’s foul on Havertz. We have the three points and that is that matters, and up at Manchester I got to hear the Gyokeres song. Leeds on Saturday, then another big test against Liverpool, but if we came away with three points playing like we did yesterday I won’t be complaining. First game away at Old Trafford was a test and we passed it
“Man Utd never look like scoring” – thanks only to Raya. It was no coincidence that Raya was easily Arsenal’s best player and Man of the Match.
One statistic: Man Utd hadn’t had so many shots against Arsenal, and so many on target, at Old Trafford since 2011 when Ferguson’s team scored eight against Wenger’s Arsenal.
I read they had 22 shots at goal. 2nd half we had, precisely none.
I have to say, we looked timid!!!!!
It seems you guys just love to denigrate this team that you claim to support. This is the second team in the last few years that Arsenal have won at OT in recent years. Prior to that such wins were very rare.
Bringing up that beating that Arsenal took so many years ago is also quite something. That was a very different and far more difficult match. It is a memory that most Arsenal fans want to forget yet here we have some fans gloating and trying to compare this win to that terrible experience.
What nonsense. I brought it up because someone posted that Utd never looked like scoring. It’s perfectly legitimate to mention the overwhelming number of shots they had on Sunday and compare that with the last time in that 2011 match. I’m sure other Arsenal fans are grown up enough so that they won’t be traumatised by mentioning it. And who is “gloating”?
You really should try and stop justifying “positions” on other posts just, apparently, for the sake of it.
Yes only thanks to Raya. I think Arsenal has the best defense around which says a lot about those Man utd attacks. Once they gel they are returning to challenge for top places.
“bias towards Arsenal” From who/where?
The media weren’t too convinced by Bergkamp & Henry at their starts with Arsenal, but they didn’t turn out too badly.
Viktor Gyokeres will be a perfect striker coming weeks games. again the attacking midfielders and wingers should play as a team with Gyokeres because instead to play as a team rather played individual games in Man U game,