Alan Shearer retains his confidence in Viktor Gyokeres to get the goals with time, after some quarters have criticised the Arsenal striker.
Arsenal are in a fantastic place at the moment, and they are three points clear at the top of the Premier League standings. The results are probably a result of their brilliant efforts in the transfer window, where eight new players, including Viktor Gyokeres, arrived to improve the first team squad and the depth options.
The slender 1-0 reverse win over Fulham away from home through a Leandro Trossard strike proved enough to get all three points. However, Viktor Gyokeres was missing from the scoresheet again, and some quarters have criticised the Swedish striker for his lack of goals since joining Arsenal.
Arteta’s comments in the press conference before the Fulham game showed the Arsenal boss was not worried about Gyokeres’s lack of goals, although that is the Swedish striker’s main trait. He has been sensational in a way of holding play and allowing Arsenal wingers to get into dangerous areas, as he keeps hold of the centre-backs.
However, those outside of Arsenal are quick to react to the striker’s lack of goals, but within the club, they seem to be extremely satisfied with the Swede’s contributions. Alan Shearer on BBC’s MOTD stated he is not worried about Gyokeres’ lack of goals, and believes it will come in due time.
Shearer was full of praise for the Swedish striker, and said, “But one of his strengths, which has suited Arsenal, is his ability to go in behind, and I think when he does that, that then creates space for others to play.”
“Because last season, you had (Kai) Havertz or (Mikel) Merino coming short, and that’s easier for teams to defend against, but when you’re running the other way, they get deeper and deeper – that then opens the space for others to play. So I think from that point of view, he has improved Arsenal.”
“I think he will get the goals, obviously nowhere near as many as he got last season, but he will get the goals with the number of chances Arsenal create, he will, and his numbers should improve.”
Gyokeres has three goals so far, with all those strikes coming in two Premier League games against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest. However, he has failed to score so far in the Champions League or the Carabao Cup.
From Arsenal’s perspective, they are in a brilliant place at the moment, and probably have the right platform for someone like Gyokeres to take his time adapting to the new league. Like Shearer insisted, the goals will come for the Arsenal summer arrival, as he has shown plenty of signs of improving that aspect of his game in this system under Arteta.