Arsenal did not help Viktor Gyokeres in certain situations against Manchester United, but the striker will quickly learn that is not a "level above" everyone else in the Premier League, expert Charles Watts has claimed.
The 27-year-old debuted at Old Trafford in Sunday's 1-0 win after opening his account in the recent Emirates Cup victory over Athletic Bilbao, but the statistics told the story of a man whose Premier League baptism is best consigned to history.
Gyokeres did not have a single shot during the entire 60 minutes he was on the field, while he only touched the ball 22 times and lost five of his six aerial duels, having been effectively marshalled by Matthijs de Ligt throughout his English top-flight debut.
Speaking to Sports Mole, Watts claimed that Arsenal's fellow attackers did Gyokeres no favours with their runs inside, but he also implored the Scandinavian to quickly adjust to life in the Premier League, where he cannot "bully" defences in the same way that he did in the Primeira Liga.
“Arsenal didn't help him at all in some of those situations in the first half," Watts said. "I talk about getting better at making the runs, I'm looking at the wingers there. There were some opportunities when Odegaard was running at the heart of the defence, and Saka and Martinelli were just so narrow.
“They were making the same runs on the diagonal a little bit, in towards Gyokeres, and it just narrowed the pitch. Surely in that situation, you want to stretch the play and pull the defenders out. Arsenal need to release the ball to Gyokeres quicker than they do in some situations as well, getting one-on-one.
'Gyokeres is not a level above everyone else in Premier League'
Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres pictured on August 6, 2025
“The one time they did that in the second half, when he did square De Ligt up one-on-one, he trod on the ball and the chance went. It wasn't a good day for him. When he did get a couple of situations, he didn't take advantage of them, but it's his first game in the Premier League.
“He's so used to playing in a league where he can absolutely bully defences, and he's just a level above everyone else. He's not that in the Premier League. He’s going to have to adjust to playing against better defenders, better defensive midfielders, and it's going to take time.
“Not loads, because Arsenal have signed him for the here and now, so it can't be a project type thing. He's going to have to adjust quickly. But games like that will help him in the long run. He'll know what he's coming up against now, and I hope he starts this weekend; he'll be licking his lips at the prospect of playing Leeds at home.”
While Gyokeres had a debut to forget at the Theatre of Dreams, Mikel Arteta's number one David Raya stood incredibly tall in between the posts, making seven crucial saves in a man-of-the-match performance.
The Spain international made particularly impressive stops from Man United new boys Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo either side of the half-time whistle, once again bailing out his outfield players as Ruben Amorim's men huffed and puffed without success.
Raya's arrival two years ago was initially met with scepticism following Aaron Ramsdale's two standout seasons, but the reigning Golden Glove winner - alongside Nottingham Forest's Matz Sels - is now regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers on the planet.
'No better goalkeeper in the world for Arsenal than Raya'
Arsenal's David Raya reacts on December 4, 2024
Gianluigi Donnarumma - who could soon be heading to Manchester City - Thibaut Courtois and Jan Oblak are often brought up in debates about the best goalkeepers on the planet, but Watts believes that no other number one in the world is better for Arteta's Arsenal.
“I don't know if there's a weakness to his game," Watts added. "Obviously, he can always improve somewhere, but he's been a brilliant signing. Absolutely fantastic. So consistent, so assured. It's not just the saves; I mentioned that corner when it came in in the second half and the way he took advantage of that situation, punched it away.
“For a relatively small goalkeeper, he’s so commanding in around the penalty area. When crosses comes in, claims them. He dominates his box so, so well. And I love that about him. We know he can make some fantastic saves. The one in the first half from Cunha was great. And distribution wise, he's exactly what Mikel Arteta wants in a goalkeeper.
“Everyone will have their own opinion on who the best keepers in the world are. Donnarumma, we saw firsthand last season how unbeatable he can be. Oblak is always the keeper I have in my mind as arguably the best in the world. But for the way that Mikel Arteta wants his number one to play, there's no one else in the world who I think is head and shoulders above David Raya.”
Watts also broke down Arsenal's 'atypical' performance in their narrow triumph over Man United, and the Gunners now have a few days to recover before they host Leeds United in this weekend's 5.30pm kickoff.
> Click here to listen to the full discussion on Gyokeres's Arsenal debut
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