In Arsenal’s pulsating 3-2 New Year’s Eve thriller against Aston Villa, new signing Viktor Gyokeres endured a nightmare 20 minutes that laid bare his Achilles’ heel. The £85m Swedish striker, hailed as the Premier League’s latest firepower after his summer switch from Sporting CP, was schooled by teammate Gabriel Martinelli in a training-inspired subplot. With the Gunners leading 2-1, Martinelli’s blistering counter exposed Gyokeres’ glaring lack of pace, turning a routine hold-up play into an embarrassing foot race lost by yards.
Gyokeres’ Achilles’ Heel
Viktor Gyokeres arrived at the Emirates with 43 goals from his Lisbon rampage, a poacher’s instinct that promised to turbocharge Arsenal’s attack alongside Kai Havertz. Yet, his 6’2″ frame, while dominant in the air and box, betrays a sluggish turn of speed. Analysts clocked him at 30km/h max—dawdling compared to Gabriel Martinelli who is at 35km/h sprint. In the Villa clash, Emery’s high press preyed on it: Jacob Ramsey’s long ball caught Gyokeres flat-footed, only for Martinelli’s recovery to salvage the moment. Post-match stats? Gyokeres lost three duels on the break, his positioning heroic but propulsion pedestrian. “He’s a finisher, not a Ferrari,” one pundit sniped.
Arteta’s Tactical Tightrope
Mikel Arteta, ever the innovator, now faces a puzzle. Integrate Gyokeres as a static target man, shielding him from transitions? Or pair him with Martinelli’s dynamism to mask the flaw? The boss praised the Swede’s “world-class hold-up” but urged adaptation: “Pace isn’t everything, but here, it bites.” With Champions League knockout looming, this exposure risks derailing the title charge—Arsenal’s attack thrives on velocity, not just venom.
Jamie Redknapp: “It’s a struggle for Gyökeres at the moment. It shouldn’t be the case, but it looks like he’s really struggling with the physicality of it. I rarely see him win a duel. In terms of his touch & bringing people into play, NOT good enough.” ❌ pic.twitter.com/YtND4NkDdD
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) December 20, 2025
Redemption on the Horizon?
Gyokeres, 27 and hungry, vowed growth: “I’ll adapt; this league humbles you.” As fireworks faded over North London, Martinelli’s masterclass served notice: Arsenal‘s dreams demand evolution. For Gyokeres, the embarrassment stings, but it’s fuel. In football’s unforgiving forge, pace might be king—but reinvention crowns champions.
As featured on GoonerNews.com
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