Viktor Gyokeres continued his impressive start to life at Arsenal with his first two Champions League goals for us against Atletico Madrid.
He became the 81st different player to score for us in the competition with his second-half brace, taking his tally for the season to five from 11 starts in all competitions, since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in the summer.
His other three goals have all come in the Premier League (two against Leeds United and one against Nottingham Forest) but his performances since the start of the season have been about so much more than goals, as the stats prove.
Eight games into the Premier League season, Viktor leads the way - literally and figuratively - in several categories across the whole division. Opta measure how and where players apply pressure during a game, and our Swedish striker comes out on top in various areas. Whether it’s pressure applied in the final third or in the opposition penalty area, the 27-year-old is setting the standard.
In terms of pressures applied in the final third, Viktor is way out in front as he instigates our pressing game:
Most pressures applied in final third
**PLAYER**
Club
**Occasions**
**Viktor Gyokeres**
Arsenal
**319**
**Erling Haaland**
Man City
**286**
**Igor Thiago**
Brentford
**245**
**Evanilson**
Bournemouth
**240**
**Joao Pedro**
Chelsea
**232**
**Richarlison**
Tottenham
**230**
**Chris Wood**
Notts Forest
**226**
In regard to high pressure applied in the final third (which Opta define as when the players are within two metres), our No. 14 is also top with 199 occasions where he has pressed hard enough to get to within tackling distance of an opponent and force them to swiftly move the ball on:
High pressures applied in final third
**PLAYER**
Club
**Occasions**
**Viktor Gyokeres**
Arsenal
199
Igor Thiago
Brentford
185
Antoine Semenyo
Bournemouth
150
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Crystal Palace
146
Joao Pedro
Chelsea
142
Beto
Everton
136
Erling Haaland
Man City
133
Then when the parameters are refined to the opposition penalty area, Viktor again is out in front for pressures applied (147) and high pressures applied (90) – ahead of both Haaland and Evanilson, showing that he is a constant menace for goalkeepers and defenders, not given them time to compose themselves to pick a pass, or allow their teammates to easily get back into their natural positions:
Pressures inside penalty area
**PLAYER**
**PressureS**
HIGH PRESSURES
**Viktor Gyokeres**
**147**
90
Erling Haaland
139
68
Evanilson
123
62
Richarlison
110
55
Chris Wood
104
55
Beto
91
60
Joao Pedro
90
57
Mikel Arteta has often spoken this season about Viktor’s prowess off the ball, and again the Opta stats back this up in terms of making runs.
In the Premier League so far this season, he has recorded the most off-the-ball runs into the opposition area, with 54. He’s also third in the whole league for off-the-ball runs in behind (as defined by Opta) with 92, behind only Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins.
Most off the ball runs into the penalty area
**PLAYER**
CLUB
**Off Ball Runs into Opp Area**
**Viktor Gyokeres**
Arsenal
**54**
Daniel Munoz
Crystal Palace
45
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool
41
Cody Gakpo
Liverpool
40
Joao Pedro
Chelsea
40
But goals is what Viktor has become known for over the past few years. He scored 54 in 52 games for Sporting last season, including six in the Champions League, enough to earn him the Gerd Muller Trophy for 2025 (awarded to the continent's top goalscorer) - having also netted nine times for the Sweden national team during the campaign.
So far in the Premier League, Viktor has got away more shots (14) and had more shots on target (seven) than any other Arsenal player, and has also created five chances from open play (only four players have more). He's hit the woodwork in both the Premier League and Champions League too.
So our top scorer has hit the ground running – literally – in his Gunners career, and he will hope to continue that good form when we take on Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium this weekend.
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