Mikel Arteta may have to use his man management skills this week as even though Viktor Gyokeres has only played an hour of Premiership football, some have spent the last couple of days questioning just how good he is after all.
Manchester United fans had fun mocking the 27-year-old for his weight but that is like calling someone ugly after they rejected you. Unfortunately, criticism extended to our own fanbase. Some Gooners will be motivated by getting clicks for YouTube, so want to promote a made-up personality of always being negative.
For others, they are simply reflecting society. A young man has been celebrated for the last couple of years for how well he has done and some therefore want to see him fall flat on his face. I just thought he would have been given more time than 60 minutes at Old Trafford. Especially when conversations have existed among supporters that he was unlikely to play 90 minutes because there is no way he can be fully fit.
Harsh judgement after United
I myself pointed out that the negative aspect of Andrea Berta taking so long to negotiate with Sporting Lisbon was that it meant our new striker did not get a full pre-season and started the campaign unprepared. Yet he is being judged on not scoring at Manchester United which seems harsh. His case was not helped by the footballing intelligence Kai Havertz showed when he came on.
One forward knew his role, the other looked a bit lost. That is another reason why another midfielder is needed, either to take away some of the creative pressure on Martin Ødegaard or to add competition on our left side. Our manager would have already warned the Swede how reactionary the internet and the mainstream media can be, especially when you represent a club the size of Arsenal.
As a former professional himself, our former captain is qualified to know what it is like moving abroad and settling into a new culture. Yet even the Spaniard would have been surprised by how judgemental some have been.
Various outlets could not wait to post data detailing how few touches our new signing had on Sunday and how little were in the penalty area. The weekend was the first time since playing for Coventry that the player did not manage a single shot. The fact that never happened in Portugal but happens the moment he is back in England adds to the narrative that his record in the Primeira Liga should be questioned because of the standard of the league.
Gyokeres faces his biggest challenge
These are whispers the man himself cannot escape from which is why, as he reaches the peak years of his career, this is mentally his biggest challenge. Living in the Portuguese capital with the pressure of having to win every week and responding with 97 goals in 102 games is proof a mindset exists where he can handle expectation.
The majority of those goals proved he is a natural goalscorer. The only thing we do not know is his level of confidence. Does he believe that he can score over 20 league goals a season at the Emirates? Or in the back of his mind does he remind himself that from the age of 19-23, Brighton never trusted him to play in the Premiership? Not helping anyone’s self-belief, his ex-teammate Glenn Murray has stated he did not observe a strike partner destined for the higher level at the Amex.
It feels crazy to say an individual without even 90 minutes of competitive football as a Gunner under his belt would be under scrutiny to score against Leeds. After all, the likes of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp began life in North London with goal droughts domestically. No one is saying Gyokeres will reach their level because they are legends, yet it shows that even the very best need some time and empathy from the public.
Those two had the benefit of playing in an era where social media was not dominant. Failure to get on the scoresheet on Saturday dominates the headlines for another week, not the preparation our squad want for a trip to Anfield. After that it is the international break. If he goes away with Sweden still without a goal for his new employer, that becomes another long week.
Many who have worked with Mikel Arteta paint our boss as not the type to put his arm round your shoulder and reassure you. It might be in his best interest to do so. Unfortunately, many successful people in the public eye have to listen to nonsense being said about them. What separates the good from the great is the great respond with something special.
Your thoughts appreciated in the comments.
Dan Smith
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Gyökeres success IMO is dependent on the chances created for him to score, if Merino can score goals in this Arsenal squad, then I have no doubt about our new number 14. The whole team played badly against united, you can’t single him out for criticism and certainly not the first of 38 games to play.
Good days ahead..COYG
Gyokeres should befriend Havertz and learn some endurance/tough skin tips from him. Havertz was greatly criticized by lots of Arsenal fans when he arrized at the Emirate stadium. This was due to his antecedent at Chesea. But he believed in himself and didn’t give up but worked harder to justify his signing.
Gyokeres needs a tough and good mental attitude to thrive in a big club, new system,different country and a football pattern/tactics he wasn’t used to.
Arsenal haven’t had a natural NO9 since Auba departure. Gyokeres arrived London with goal scoring pedegree so expectation would be high on him so it’s up to him to show how ready he is and prove his critics wrong.
I’m not really sure how Gyokeres can be “protected” effectively, other than not reading the media coverage. I’m afraid that this type of negative media onslaught often comes with the territory.
That said, I would expect Arteta and the squad to support him as a matter of course. Gyokeres is a grown up though so I wouldn’t expect that it would have that much, or any (hopefully), of a negative impact on him. Although all the fuss – some generated by him, or his advisors, it seems – over his departure from Sporting was far from ideal and was always likely to have an “after life”
His best (only) response will be on the pitch where it counts ultimately. I’m sure we’ll see the “real” Gyokeres once he gets fully match fit and, of course, along with Arteta, his coaching staff, and teammates they all find a system to get the best from our new striker.
Gyokeres is one of most sought-after CFs in the world and he chose Arsenal despite the easier opportunities in Saudi/ other weaker leagues, so he’s supposed to dismiss the backlash himself by being productive
Productive means he doesn’t need to score 20+ league goals as long as he can make a plethora of assists and pre-assists for his teammates
Based on his body strength display at Old Trafford, he’s capable of doing that physically on the ground. Let’s see if he’s strong enough mentally or not to play against the best CBs in the world by the end of the season
He currently needs a strong internal competitor because Havertz got injured again, to improve his performance. I hope Arsenal will sign Samu Aghehowa for that purpose
@Gai
You are right.
Let’s see how pro active Arsenal and Arteta would be. Arteta needs a backup CF even if a low profile young player. But I guess he will want to rely on Merino. And that would be very risky.
Brentford just turned down a bid worth £35m + £5m from Newcastle for the 28-year-old CF Yoane Wissa
I guess the prices of all high-profile CFs are currently very inflated, because of the lack of supply and the increase of demand for that player type
I think Arsenal will be forced to stick with Merino, Trossard and Jesus until Havertz returns
For me, Gyokeres should relax and play his normal game. If he can over come personal pressure to score, then, he will reach +20 goals. Another thing is, his team mates should help him by giving him passes.
Arsenal need goal scoring left winger not backup for Havrez . Merino can be his backup
No room for protection now. It’s sink or swim time already with Havertz out for months.
Is there a shortage of story’s this month or something. First it’s the Eze story doing the rounds. I think there’s a competition on how many spins you can put on one story where Eze is concerned.
And now the quite desperate attempts in my opinion to judge the likes of Gyokeres and Madueke after one game. How laughable, it really is. 🤦♂️
I believe that if the service is right the likes of the aforementioned player’s will come good given games to find there feet so to speak.
Come on people, while I can understand us becoming more impatient regards trophy’s, we need to show some patience concerning our new players to more than one game surely. 🤷♂️
Very good shout DEREK, just one game in and another article headlined ‘Gyökeres criticism’. One game, at Old Trafford, poor game, poor service. How many games did it take for Bergkamp, Wright, Henry, Ronaldo and many others to get going?
GB,
I’ve mentioned Bergkamp and Henry on another post.
But I must pull you up on Ian Wright having a slow start. In his first game in a League Cup tie against Leicester he scored in a 1-1. And scored in the replay in a 2-1 win. And in his first League Game V Southampton he banged in a hatrick.
If that’s what you call slow, WOW! your a hard task master.😂🤣👍
Did I say Wright, my idol, surely not, oh yes I did…..mistakenly, I meant to say Winterburn 😂
GB,
What a consistent player Winterburn turned out to be. a 7+ in most games. 👍
One of my faves Derek
An underestimated player who played second fiddle to Pearce for England?
Me to Sue,
He very rarely had a poor game. His performance levels were very good most of the time.
GB,
Regarding Winterburns slow start. To be fare to him, if I remember rightly he had to play quite a few games at right back in his early days at the club.
Don’t forget he was up against a certain Kenny Sansom, the record left back holder for England at the time I do believe.
But once he got his chance at left back, the rest is history as they say. 👍
Derek, you’re right about Winterburn playing at RB in his early days. I can remember him playing RB in the Littlewoods Cup Final defeat to Luton in ’88.
Herr Drier,
I remember him playing there to. But the moment of that game that still haunts me to this day.
We came back from 1-0 down to go 2-1 up. And a certain player named Gus Caesar decided to play keepie-uppie’s in our box, instead of just clearing it. It cost us a goal.
And then Luton went on to win 3-2. And we missed a penalty, and ironically it was Winterburn who missed it. I always said he was over rated.😂 And we were 2-1 up when it was missed as well.🤦♂️
To be honest though, justice was done as far as I was concerned. As the late and great David Rocastle went down a bit easily for what was a soft penalty if the truth were told.
But David Rocastle remains my favorite ever Arsenal player to this day. And np matter who we sign or plays for us in the future, Rocky will always be my favorite player. Sadly missed.😢
Orstein saying Eze deal is alive and we’re going for him. Might save our window 👀
From your lips to god’s ears. 🤞🤞
RSH,
After all the talk through this window, I’ll believe it when I see it.👀🤷♂️👍
Ornstein normally one of the best sources so I’m crossing my fingers and my toes. As a side note, if we end up getting him it would potentially mean that Martinelli or even Trossard with the new contract terms will be out the door by Sept 1 with the remaining winger battling it out with Noni for first choice.
Bruised Banana,
I’ve just pit on another post, that the BBC Website is also reporting that Arsenal have made a move for Eze.🤞
Bruised banana, you want Trossard out! Boy can play center forward and with the Harvertz injury we need him. Unless we are going for a striker ! Gyo won’t be playing all games
I didn’t state I wanted Trossard out! You don’t need to educate me on Trossard and I have recognized and espoused this intelligent, skillful, tough and quality player on many occasions on JA and elsewhere.
I’m hoping so Derek. Very aggressive from Arsenal FINALLY. This is what we’ve wanted them to do for several windows and just go all out. Shame it takes Kai getting an injury to do it, we still need him back ASAP
RSH,
Reading the latest reports, I’m just beginning to believe what I’m seeing.👀😂🤞👍
Now reported that the deal is sealed! Super happy with this!
Eze is coming to Arsenal. hip hip
Yes!!! The best news.
We got ‘em!
I am not at all worried, Gyo will come good, he is a top professional. The goals will come all it takes is him to get service, which the team failed in at 0ld Trafford
Can just imagine how down those Spuds fans will be in the morning waking up to the hijacked of the Crystal Palace Man.
But the signing of Eze is like killing two birds with one stone.
I can see him playing a crucial role when the low blocks teams come to town.
This is the player that could return Martineli to life, surely he has to be given the # 10 shirt.
As for the Big Swedes, the player hasn’t got his feet wet yet and we are on his back already, maybe we need a page from the Anfield book.
If we get EZE and Odergaard gets back to his best and with Saka, Gyokeres will be able to receive plenty of creativity and assists for him to flourish.
Notwistanding comments by opposition supporters, whose knowledge of footballer’s quality may be biased or questionable, in the past international like Stuart Pearse in the case of Dennis Bergkamp and Jack Charlton in the case of Craig Johnston, both ended up with egg on their faces. Comments such as he “won’tmake a footballer while his backside points at the ground” can be made prematurely.
How can any sane person judge Gyokeres after so few minute’s of play. He will come good, if Arteta plays to his strengths and he is not starved of the ball..
The meagre allowance my mom gives me added to the massive needs I have as a growing teen in the 21st century doesn’t allow me to worry about Gyokeres. He just has to work out. Arteta’s millions plus his millions must ensure that happens. I cannot endure a whole season being taunted by my mates if Gyokeres fails to perform. I simply can’t. Considering that such would mean we probably won’t win anything, I won’t endure. Arteta and Gyokeres, for the love of your fan, come up with a working strategy