A remarkable statistic from Viktor Gyokeres’ performance during Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool on Thursday night has emerged, and it does not make for encouraging reading for those of an Emirates Stadium persuasion. Signed for £63.5 million over the summer in the hope that he would solve the Gunners’ struggles to score from open play, the latest fixture highlighted just how little he has done to address that issue.
The Premier League leaders were expected to blow the wounded champions - who were without a recognised striker due to injuries to Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, while Mohamed Salah remains at AFCON - out of the water. Instead, Liverpool frustrated their hosts and even dominated the second half, despite Mikel Arteta having a £273 million wealth of talent on the bench with which to alter the course of the match.
Milos Kerkez and Conor Bradley performed well in keeping Arsenal’s wingers at bay, even if there were moments when Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard looked capable of getting the better of them. However, the biggest concern for the league leaders will be that Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté were largely able to relax for most of the night, thanks to Gyokeres' non-appearance.
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Worrying Viktor Gyokeres Stat Emerges After Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool
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Gyokeres has now gone seven league matches without scoring, which is a significant concern in itself. However, that is not the only statistic that proves the Swedish international - who most recently played for Sporting after a stint in the Championship with Coventry City - is operating well outside his comfort zone in the Premier League.
On top of that, the 27-year-old registered just eight touches in 64 minutes against Liverpool. He had only one touch in the second half before being replaced by Gabriel Jesus, who went on to take 11 touches in just 26 minutes, further reinforcing the extent of Gyokeres’ struggles. See Opta's findings below:
This is the same striker that failed to register a single shot, while he was dispossessed from two of his eight touches. The Swede has done very little to help relieve Arsenal from their reputation as set-piece merchants, and with Kai Havertz back in full training, it's surely only a matter of time before he is reinstated as a makeshift forward.
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Even though Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are not reliable goalscorers either, they offer far more in transition and off the ball than Gyökeres has been able to provide. If Arteta continues to struggle to find goals from what should be the team’s primary source, then it stands to reason he may need to find an alternative setup in which the centre forward at least offers some utility.
That could mean lining up with a false nine to bring the best out of the wingers, or giving Mikel Merino another opportunity in the role. With a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League, it is not a reason to panic - but it is an issue that surely needs addressing in the belief that they can't keep relying on the notion that it's defence that wins league titles, while Manchester City can't surely keep leaving the door open for the Gunners to tighten their stranglehold after signing Antoine Semenyo.