Arsenal have stormed into the new season with eight wins from their opening 10 games, but for new £64m striker Viktor Gyokeres, life in North London has been less straightforward.
After scoring three goals in his first four appearances, the Sweden forward has now gone six matches without finding the net. While that may sound worrying for a striker brought in to fire Arsenal to silverware, manager Mikel Arteta has been quick to back him, praising his “exceptional work-rate” and even giving him a hug after the weekend’s 2-0 win over West Ham.
Gyokeres hasn’t had it easy. His pre-season with Sporting was cut short as he forced through his Arsenal move, leaving him behind on fitness. On top of that, Kai Havertz’s knee injury has meant Gyokeres has had to play more minutes than planned, including tough away games against Liverpool, Manchester United, and Newcastle.
Arsenal have also tweaked their tactics to suit him. Instead of dropping into midfield like Havertz, Gyokeres prefers running between centre-backs and stretching defences. This means Arsenal have been more direct, creating 23 chances for him in 10 games. The issue? He’s only put seven of those shots on target.
Still, Gyokeres is contributing in ways that stats don’t always show. His movement opens up space for Odegaard, Saka, Eze, and Martinelli, while his physical presence offers Arsenal a different attacking option compared to last season.
Bukayo Saka, who made his 200th Premier League appearance on Saturday, had nothing but praise:
“Viktor’s playing really, really well. There’s no doubt he’s going to score goals. He’s a big part of why we’re winning these games. His goals will come.”
Arsenal fans may feel restless, but there are positives. Gyokeres is a relentless runner, mentally tough, and determined to prove himself in England. His teammates are clearly backing him — even Martinelli looked ready to step aside and let his effort against Olympiacos roll in before tapping home the rebound.
He may not yet be the “silky” striker Arsenal fans hoped for, but with Arteta reshaping the team to maximize his strengths, Gyokeres has all the tools to become the focal point Arsenal need.
The big question is: will patience pay off, and will his goals eventually match the effort?
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