Viktor Gyokeres: Arsenal striker has gone six video games with out a objective – so how is he serving to Mikel Arteta’s crew?

Viktor Gyokeres arrived at Arsenal as a objective machine, with 97 objectives in 102 video games at former membership Sporting. He was branded because the pure goalscorer, the ultimate piece of the puzzle that Arsenal have been lacking.

So, no objective in a month – hitting six straight blanks – is a priority for the ahead lately given the European Golden Shoe prize on the Ballon D’Or Awards.

“He would get frustrated if he went three or four games without a goal,” mentioned Coventry’s former assistant supervisor Adi Viveash to Sky Sports activities final season about working with the striker within the Championship.

“He didn’t want to go that long. He would get a little bit edgy if he went a few games without one.”

A document of three objectives in ten video games in Arsenal colors is not horrendous, particularly with the crew profitable eight of these matches.

But there was a way of disappointment round Gyokeres up to now, notably as he averaged 35 objectives throughout his two league seasons in Portugal.

For instance, the ahead did not have a shot within the latest huge video games with Liverpool and the 2 Manchester golf equipment. It will be attention-grabbing to see what number of video games the Swede would have began had Kai Havertz been match and accessible.

But the temper at Arsenal is considered one of ‘no want for panic’ and that Gyokeres is doing simply fantastic.

“He’s a big part of the reason why we’re winning these games,” mentioned Bukayo Saka this month. “The work that he does is unbelievable for the team,” added Mikel Arteta. Gabriel Martinelli has nonetheless backed him to get as many as 40 objectives this season.

So what’s Gyokeres doing that is not being mirrored within the objective numbers?

Arteta gave a touch after Arsenal’s most up-to-date victory over West Ham: “The way he stretches the back four and the spaces he opens.”

The numbers again that up. Solely Ollie Watkins has made extra runs difficult the backline than Gyokeres this Premier League season.

This can be a very totally different striker profile to what Arsenal have had earlier than, with Gyokeres difficult the opposition again 4 almost twice as a lot as Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus averaged final season.

And people runs assist to create holes within the again 4. One instance got here away at Newcastle, when Gyokeres’ run down the proper channel dragged Malick Thiaw out of place, creating a big hole which Arsenal exploited – as Leandro Trossard struck the put up.

That giant hole is likely one of the examples of “spaces” that Arteta desires Gyokeres to create, thereby enhancing Arsenal’s creativity ranges.. You hear rather a lot from Arteta concerning the want to search out “open spaces” in his press conferences. It’s a key a part of his techniques each week.

And people working actions are deemed Gyokeres’ sturdy swimsuit. Former Sweden supervisor Jon Dahl Tomasson advised Sky Sports activities this season that his channel runs are at an “extremely high level” – and that he is likely one of the “best in the world” at these actions.

There have even been some examples the place Gyokeres has managed to create alternatives for others, regardless of not being concerned within the play.

The Swedish striker is tightly marked in England – at the next fee than any Premier League participant this season. Giving a striker with a 40-goal-a-campaign document barely any area to function might be a good suggestion.

However what Gyokeres additionally does is entice a couple of centre-back within the field, which creates a free man. At Newcastle, Eberechi Eze had a free shot on objective within the area left behind by Gyokeres being occupied by each Thiaw and Sven Botman.

Eze was one other beneficiary of Gyokeres’ pinning of a number of defenders towards West Ham. The Swede was intently marked by Max Kilman and Dinos Mavropanos all recreation and late within the first half, Eze discovered area within the field to shoot due to it, which led to Declan Rice’s opener.

“We’re so grateful for what he does,” mentioned Saka after that West Ham recreation. “How he holds the ball, how he makes the runs, the threat he gives us.”

And that isn’t all. Gyokeres additionally stretches and creates issues for the opposition again 4 off the ball – in his urgent.

Gyokeres operates at a barely increased stage on this regard in comparison with what Arsenal had earlier than from their centre ahead. Whereas Havertz was often called an avid presser, the Swede is barely higher at creating turnovers of possession from them.

But whereas Gyokeres’s underrated, off-the-ball work could be praised, Arsenal additionally signed him to attain. “His goals will come,” added Saka.

“We know that, we believe that and we believe in him. I don’t think there are any doubts. He’s still up, he’s still happy and he’s still giving his best every game.”

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Arsenal have been in an analogous scenario earlier than with central attacking gamers. For instance it took Arteta’s facet a very long time to work out methods to play with Havertz – whose first objective for the membership from open play got here in late November of his first season.

Gyokeres has additionally been in related situations over his profession. He by no means received going at Brighton, began slowly at Coventry, whereas the ahead additionally needed to face questions over his weight and pace throughout his early Sporting days.

Arsenal must get used to Gyokeres in the identical method the ahead has to get used to the Premier League. It takes time for the striker to click on, however the Gunners shall be hoping {that a} extra beneficial set of fixtures developing is the interval the place he does.

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