Over the past week, scrutiny around Viktor Gyökeres has intensified. Signed to lead Arsenal’s line with goals and presence, the Swedish striker has instead endured another frustrating run of matches in which his influence has been limited and his output absent. Arsenal continued to win and control games, but their attack often stalled in central areas, with Gyökeres struggling to impose himself either as a finisher or as a facilitator.
In the most recent fixtures, Gyökeres found himself isolated for long stretches. His touches in the penalty area were sparse, his combinations with midfielders inconsistent, and his chances came largely from scraps rather than sustained patterns. When he was withdrawn late in matches, Arsenal’s attacking rhythm often improved rather than declined, a detail that has not gone unnoticed.
This has not yet become a crisis, but it has become a talking point. Arsenal are in the midst of a title charge, and at this stage of the season margins matter. Every attacking role is magnified, especially the player tasked with connecting the most dominant possession structure in the league to actual goals.
Why Arsenal’s System Demands More Than a Finisher
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are not built around chaos or constant transition. They dominate territory, pin opponents back, and spend long periods circulating the ball around organised mid and low blocks. In that context, the striker’s job is not simply to finish chances. He must help create them.
(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
The centre forward is often the bridge between midfield control and attacking incision. When that bridge is weak, Arsenal can look predictable. Wide players recycle possession, midfielders probe cautiously, and the ball circulates without penetration. Against deep defences, movement between the lines and quick combinations are essential. This is where Gyökeres’ profile currently appears mismatched.
Gyökeres excels when attacking space, occupying centre backs, and finishing moves that arrive quickly into the box. Arsenal’s recent opponents have not allowed those conditions. Instead, they have sat compact, denied space, and forced Arsenal to solve problems through positioning and interaction rather than directness. In those moments, a striker who drops, links, and manipulates defenders becomes more valuable than one waiting for service.
The Case for a Connector Forward
A connector striker changes the geometry of the attack. By dropping into midfield zones, he forces defenders to make decisions. Step out and leave space behind, or hold position and allow overloads between the lines. Arsenal have historically thrived with this type of forward.
Gabriel Jesus embodies this role. Even when he does not score, his presence alters how Arsenal attack. He drifts wide, combines centrally, presses aggressively, and allows midfielders and wingers to rotate freely around him. Over the past week, when Jesus appeared in matches, Arsenal’s tempo improved and their central access became more fluid. The ball moved quicker through the middle, and defenders were pulled out of their preferred positions.
Kai Havertz offers a different but equally relevant variation. When fit, he functions as a delayed connector rather than a constant one. He drops selectively, occupies midfield pockets, and times runs into the box rather than staying fixed inside it. That movement can be particularly effective against teams defending deep, as it disrupts marking schemes built around static reference points.
In contrast, Gyökeres’ movements have often been linear. He stays high, engages physically, and looks to attack crosses or through balls. Those qualities are not useless, but they are harder to leverage when Arsenal face teams focused on denying space rather than contesting it.
The most recent matches have underlined a pattern. Arsenal still dominate possession and territory regardless of who starts at striker. The difference lies in how efficiently that dominance turns into chances.
With Gyökeres leading the line, Arsenal’s attacks have leaned heavily toward wide areas. Crosses and cutbacks become the primary route, and central combinations are rarer. When a connector enters the game, Arsenal suddenly find access through the middle. One touch layoffs, third man runs, and quick give and go sequences appear more frequently.
This does not mean Gyökeres is failing in isolation. He continues to work hard, press intelligently, and occupy defenders. But at the sharp end of a title race, suitability matters more than effort. Arsenal need solutions, not just presence.
Tactical Balance Over Individual Reputation
One of Arteta’s greatest strengths has been his willingness to adapt roles without discarding players. The question facing Arsenal is not whether Gyökeres is good enough, but whether he should be the primary reference point in every match.
There will be fixtures where his physicality and directness are decisive. Matches against high lines, open transitions, or opponents willing to press aggressively suit him. But the Premier League offers fewer of those games as the season progresses. Most opponents retreat, compress space, and dare Arsenal to break them down.
In those moments, a connector striker offers better balance. He increases central touches, accelerates combinations, and reduces reliance on perfect wide delivery. Arsenal’s best attacking sequences over the past week have come when the striker was actively involved in buildup rather than waiting for the final action.
Implications for the Title Race
Title challenges are not won by one tactical idea alone. They are sustained by flexibility. Arsenal’s defensive structure is elite, their midfield control among the best in Europe, and their wide players consistently dangerous. The remaining variable is how effectively they translate that control into goals against deep defences.
Persisting with Gyökeres as the sole focal point risks predictability. Rotating or prioritising a connector like Jesus or Havertz introduces variation without sacrificing structure. It allows Arsenal to tailor their attack to the problem in front of them rather than forcing the same solution every week.
The past week has made that clear. Arsenal continue to win, but the margins are tight. Goals are coming from moments rather than waves. In that context, the striker’s ability to connect phases of play becomes as important as his finishing.
Conclusion
Viktor Gyökeres is not a failed signing, but his recent struggles highlight a broader tactical truth. Arsenal’s system thrives on connection, movement, and interaction. A striker who enhances those qualities may currently offer more than one who waits to complete them.
As the title race intensifies, Arteta’s decisions at centre forward will shape Arsenal’s rhythm as much as their results. The evidence from the past week suggests that a connector profile, whether Gabriel Jesus or Kai Havertz, aligns more naturally with the demands Arsenal face right now. Gyökeres still has a role to play, but Arsenal’s pursuit of silverware may depend on choosing balance over singularity at the head of the attack.