Image credit: Getty Images
Troy Deeney has tipped Viktor Gyokeres to score his first Arsenal goal against Leeds United this weekend but suggested the striker has yet to earn the full trust of his team-mates following a difficult Premier League debut.
The Swedish forward joined Arsenal this summer in a deal worth up to £64 million after a prolific two-year spell at Sporting Lisbon, where he netted an extraordinary 97 goals in 102 appearances. His arrival was seen as the answer to Arsenal’s long-standing search for a natural centre-forward capable of firing the club to its first league title in two decades.
However, Gyokeres endured a subdued start in last weekend’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford. Thrown straight into the line-up against Manchester United, the 27-year-old struggled to make an impact and failed to register a shot before being replaced by Kai Havertz on the hour mark.
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Speaking onThe Football Exchange podcast, former Watford captain Deeney highlighted moments in the match where Gyokeres’ movement disrupted Arsenal’s attacking rhythm.
“I’m not going to kill him after one game because that’s unfair, but what I saw was a lack of trust from his team-mates,” Deeney said.
Arsenal - Viktor Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres (Image credit: Getty Images)
“There was a moment in the first half when Martinelli was running and Gyokeres made two runs, but both made it harder for the player on the ball. As a striker, when you counter-attack, you usually go wide to stretch defenders before making your run into the space. He didn’t do that.”
Despite his criticism, Deeney believes Gyokeres will find his feet quickly if he can get off the mark against Leeds at the Emirates on Saturday.
“They’re going to have to start him again because you’d expect Arsenal to beat Leeds comfortably at home,” Deeney added. “You’d expect him to score in that game and hopefully get his confidence up and off to the races. But if they don’t, and the team looks better without him, Arteta might have to think differently.”
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With Havertz facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a knee injury, the responsibility to lead the line now firmly rests on Gyokeres’ shoulders. Deeney warned, however, that the striker must add more variety to his game to thrive in the Premier League.
“Arteta has already said they’ll have to change their style because of what Gyokeres brings,” he explained. “He’s a bit like Haaland in that he wants to run in behind and is more of a poacher than an all-round footballer.
“But he needs to understand and improve other aspects of his game. When I played, you had to be decent at everything and then have a super-strength. Now a lot of strikers just have one outstanding attribute. The only one I think is good at everything is Alexander Isak.”
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