Gyokeres picked up an injury last weekendplaceholder image
Gyokeres picked up an injury last weekend | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
If Arsenal had a prolific goalscorer they would probably be chasing their third consecutive Premier League title, can Viktor Gyokeres improve?
Arsenal had a decision to make in the summer when they had money to spend on a new striker and the jury is still out on the decision that they made.
Mikel Arteta strengthened other areas of the attack by signing Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke but it was the £64m acquisition of Viktor Gyokeres that was seen as the possible difference between winning the Premier League title or coming second again. With seven goals in 20 games, the big Swede hasn’t quite found the net with the regularity that he did for Sporting Lisbon with only five goals in 15 league outings a frustrating return.
How Viktor Gyokeres can score more goals for Arsenal
What makes matters worse is that Arsenal could have signed Nick Woltemade and Hugo Ekitike who have both made an immediate impression at their new clubs although Gyokeres has been given some words of encouragement from two of the best goalscorers that England has produced.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Gary Lineker reckons that he has the answer: "I have watched him quite closely the last few weeks. Like most strikers, he waits to see where the ball is going and then attacks the space, but that's what defenders do. As a striker you've got to gamble on where you think the ball might go and you go just as its about to be crossed. So that way, you steal a march on the defender.
"A lot of the time the ball won't go that way and I don't see him doing it that often. Dominic Calvert-Lewin did a perfect example of how to do that for the Leeds goal at Sunderland. He didn't wait, he pulled away and then sprinted at the near post and hoped the ball would be delivered there. I don't see that too often from Gyokeres, at present and the players that score big numbers will do that. The likes of Haaland, Kane and Lewandowski will make those kind of moves into spaces. I've always thought you can learn to do that and it's the common sense of probability when you think about it."
Alan Shearer wants Gyokeres to adapt to Arsenal
One theory is that Arsenal and Arteta haven’t adapted for Gyokeres with much of the focus being on creating chances in the channels and for the wide forwards. Gyokeres is almost used to distract defenders whilst others benefit with Alan Shearer paying cognisance to how the Gunners set up in attack: "I think it's a lot easier when you've got someone that is right-footed, playing on the right. But in this case, I think Saka can go both ways so that makes it more difficult for the defender, but that doesn't stop you gambling or making that first movement.
“If the ball doesn't come in from then, so what, you can't then get disheartened, you have to keep going. If 10 balls come in and you get one of them, fine, you've done your job, it could be the winner. It is easier when right is right and left is left, but you cannot stop running because someone is checking back, you still have to make those runs. I did a piece early on [in Gyokeres' tenure] to say Arsenal have to get used to him and he has to get used to them, that hasn't quite happened yet."
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