Sport
Viktor Gyokeres has proved his doubters wrong by hitting the 20-goal mark in his debut Arsenal season
Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres to score goals and he has done that. While the Swedish striker has faced criticism over the course of his first season at the club, Saturday’s brace against Fulham lifted Gyokeres’ tally to 21 goals in all competitions. He is entitled to feel he has proved his doubters wrong.
While Arsenal’s need for a new centre forward was clear last summer, there were a number of different options they could have moved for. Benjamin Sesko, for example, was linked with a move to North London before joining Manchester United while Joao Pedro was also mentioned.
Gyokeres, however, was targeted for his physicality and finishing quality inside the penalty area. He scored an incredible 54 goals in 52 games for Sporting CP last season and arrived at the Emirates Stadium with the reputation of being one of the best poachers in the European game.
Integration as an Arsenal player has been slow. At times, Gyokeres has been out of sync with the rest of his teammates. The Gunners weren’t accustomed to having a focal point like the Swede to play in to and it was common for Gyokeres to make runs that weren’t recognised. He wasn’t getting the required service.
Recently, though, this has changed. Gyokeres’ all-round game has improved, as demonstrated by the standard of his hold-up play, passing and willingness to drive forward with the ball at his feet against Fulham. It was the sort of quintessential number nine display Arsenal wanted from Gyokeres when they signed him in the first place.
“He had a great performance,” said Mikel Arteta after the win over the Cottagers. “In Madrid, especially the first half, he was really good and today for 60 minutes as well. His contribution with the goals, obviously, but also he was in every action, every attacking action. He scored two great goals, position-wise, timing-wise as well, something that we’ve been working on. It’s gonna give him a big boost of energy and confidence to the team as well.”
Arsenal have a series of season-defining games on the horizon, starting with Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid. The Gunners haven’t made the final of Europe’s most prestigious club competition in 20 years, but are just one more match away from booking a place in the Budapest showpiece at the end of the month.
After that, Arsenal have three games against West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace to finish the Premier League campaign. Win all three and the Gunners might be crowned champions for the first time since the Arsene Wenger era. Gyokeres will be key in the final stretch of the season.
Kai Havertz is fit again and will be included in the squad for Tuesday’s encounter with Atletico Madrid. The German is more accomplished than Gyokeres in terms of what he offers in all areas of the game, but the latter might be the centre forward Arsenal need at this point of the campaign.
Critics might still point out that Gyokeres has only scored in two games against top-half opposition in the Premier League this season. There are still moments in which the 27-year-old lacks the technical ability of some of the best forwards at the top of English and European football.
But Arsenal didn’t sign Gyokeres to be a one-man match-winner. They signed him to finish the chances that previously were going spare and Gyokeres has done that. He might not be Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe, but Arsenal were never looking for a player of that ilk. Gyokeres has so far fulfilled the brief he was given last summer.
