Viktor Gyokeres marked his home Arsenal debut with a brace as he sent a message to critics from last week’s blank against Manchester United.
Gyokeres powered through the Leeds defence to slot in a first, before adding a second from the spot in second-half injury time. Bukayo Saka was also on the scoresheet with defender Jurrien Timber getting two of his own.
After being criticised for supposedly touching his hair more than the ball in Arsenal’s low-key win at United, Gyokeres celebrated his two goals against Leeds on Saturday by adjusting his hair in front of the TV cameras at the Emirates Stadium.
Viktor Gyokeres celebrates after scoring for Arsenal
Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images
He was praised after the game for his performance, with former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott delighted at Gyokeres’ all-action home debut.
Theo Walcott backs Viktor Gyokeres to bring the best out of Bukayo Saka
Arsenal’s striker issues in recent seasons have been well-documented, and Walcott says Gyokeres will not only increase their presence in attack but bring even more out of winger Bukayo Saka – who should thrive with a physical target man to play alongside.
Walcott told Sky Sports: “He will unlock these other attributes that Bukayo Saka has not had – playing as that bounce player as a number nine. And he drags a lot of bodies onto him.
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Viktor Gyoekeres during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leeds United at Emirates Stadium
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
“The way he manages his body and manipulates players is so strong in these positions here, when he isolates defenders out wide, they hate it.”
“So for me, he’s just one of these players that will create something out of nothing. And this is what we want to see a lot more of – him isolating defenders.”
Theo Walcott says Eberechi Eze is a more important signing for Arsenal than Viktor Gyokeres
Expanding on Gyokeres’ debut, Walcott raised the new addition of Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze, announced before kick-off against Leeds. Walcott suggested that Eze will be a ‘more important’ signing than Gyokeres because he will hit the ground running straight away.
Walcott said: “Eze is massive, the way he manipulates the ball and creates space. I think Eze is more important than Gyokeres. He does things differently that [other] players don’t. Eze is at his peak.”
Fellow pundit Jamie Redknapp agreed, suggesting Eze can form a dangerous partnership with Gyokeres similar to his relationship with Jean-Philippe Mateta at Palace.
Redknapp said: “When you talk about Eze and Mateta. That link between a big focal point in the team. Eze will come inside and slide it into his feet and you get third man runs off him.
“Eze will give you something completely different. He’ll enjoy playing with [Gyokeres], you see the relationship he had with Mateta and they’re a similar profile.”