John Cross and Tom Canton discuss Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres and his revival in the last few weeks
15:08, 10 Feb 2026
Viktor Gyokeres has enjoyed an upturn in form for Arsenal
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Viktor Gyokeres has enjoyed an upturn in form for Arsenal(Image: Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)
Viktor Gyokeres has hit form at the perfect time for Arsenal, but it could not be worse for their main rivals, Manchester City. Despite Pep Guardiola’s team turning around an unlikely deficit at the weekend against Liverpool to win, the Gunners hold the advantage.
Not just in terms of points, with a six-point gap, but in terms of remaining fixtures too. Arsenal will play just two of the current top ten away from home, whereas Manchester City has three.
But the story should be around the Swede, considering his eight-goal contributions in his last eight games. And it certainly was for our two Seeing Red Arsenal presenters, Tom Canton and John Cross.
The pair have been two of his biggest critics this season and were left beginning to nibble on some humble pie, which they did so gladly. Catch the latest episode from Seeing Red here.
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“Well, he's interesting I mean,” Cross said. “I watched the game on Saturday night, and they put up that stat that he has been top scorer across all competitions at the moment: Viktor Gyokeres sitting there proudly with six, and he’s Arsenal’s leading goalscorer.
“And look, I just feel as if it's about Arsenal and this is a club that is steeped in tradition of having wonderful strikers of technique and he is obviously someone that's very different and I don't mean that in a disrespectful way I just mean it that he an old-fashioned battering ram of the centre forward and I love, by the way, that the fans have really bought into him and supported him.
“You know, there was a few doubts when Kai Havertz first came in. Yeah, and you could hear a little bit of murmuring and noise, and then Havertz won them over.
“But to my mind, I always feel as if they backed Gyokeres. They've invested in him, shouted for him, to sing his name, and there've been a few fans with dissenting voices and doubts and stuff like that, and there've been critics like you and I, but I just feel as if he's got to be a 20-plus goal striker for Arsenal for it to make it work.
“I think he's got a different approach. Personally, I think in terms of technique, control, everything that goes with it Havertz is on a different level. Havertz, though, having said all that, is a different type of striker.
“Personally, I want to see absolute finesse and a wonderful technician at the top of the pitch and I think that Arsenal just don't have that right now, but fair play, honestly, if Gyokeres then finishes the season as 20-25 goal top scorer and Arsenal win the league then I feel as if that will prove me wrong and I won't have a problem with that.”
Canton was quick to point out the revelling which an Arsenal fan should always have when a player they have scrutinised suddenly comes good, because it is something the Gunners will benefit from. Yet also making the point of how poorly timed it is for Arsenal’s main rivals, Manchester City.
“It would be wonderful to be proved wrong to be honest,” Canton said. “Yeah, he's got 13 goals in all competitions already.
“So he's only seven off that 20 and to think they've got 13 Premier League games left, you've got the Champions League knockout rounds. You've got these FA Cup rounds and the Carabao Cup final.
“Thinking that he can get seven goals in probably twenty-ish games, I think he has to look to target that, and it would really improve Arsenal's chances across multiple competitions now.
“And if you are a Manchester City, you know Arsenal are the team that you're chasing, and at least since before the turn of the year, your striker has been under pressure. He has been facing scrutiny; he hasn't been delivering the goals and the numbers that I think we expected when he first arrived and came in at Arsenal.
“So if you're a Man City, if you're a Pep Guardiola, not only are [Arsenal] six points ahead of you, but now their summer signing is starting to score goals that in itself adds extra pressure on Manchester City as well.
Cross replies, “Yeah, it does. That's a very fair point. I do also think that he there's no doubt about it.
“He does work hard for the team. He does put the shift in and he does create that distraction for other players to feed off.”
You can watch the full episode on the Seeing Red YouTube Channel with weekly episodes dropping each Monday.
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Welcome to 'Seeing Red' - our new Arsenal podcast
We've launched a new Arsenal podcast 'Seeing Red' with chief football writer John Cross and Arsenal reporter Tom Canton.
Each week, they will dive deep into the biggest topics as they follow Mikel Arteta's side every step of the way - and will also discuss nostalgic flashbacks before each fixture.
It's a great time to be an Arsenal fan, with the Gunners flying high under Arteta as they look to win silverware this season.
The North Londoners are going strong in the Premier League and Champions League - and they're also in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
We'll provide insight and reaction - and have fun along the way - as Arsenal target the biggest trophies this season.
No stone will be left unturned. VAR controversy? Poor performances? Unsung hero who deserves praise? Fixture chaos? We'll have it all covered.
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