It was as if it was written. Ben White crossed and Viktor Gyokeres put the ball within the web from shut vary. Each of them have been team-mates at Brighton’s youth crew and certainly one of their coaches? Liam Rosenior.
However this was not only a pleasant reunion. With a purpose and an help in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Rosenior’s Chelsea within the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, this will simply be the day the place Gyokeres actually confirmed his value.
Gyokeres’ purpose was a tap-in with the purpose gaping, his help for Martin Zubimendi appeared like a easy flick. However there was extra to it than that, as each had one factor in frequent: he was surrounded by a number of gamers.
For his purpose, two Chelsea gamers have been stretching for the ball as he bundled the ball house. For Zubimendi’s purpose, the Spaniard had house to complete as a result of Arsenal’s centre ahead had attracted three gamers round him earlier than laying it off.
It was one other reminder that Gyokeres is the Premier League participant afforded the least quantity of house by defenders. However this can be the efficiency that reveals the Swedish ahead is lastly attending to grips together with his Arsenal problem.
Viktor Gyokeres is given by far much less house to function than some other Premier League participant
Attracting defenders has been the large plus-point from Gyokeres this season. It didn’t go unnoticed that two out of Arsenal’s three targets got here from open play crosses.
Creating the house for these crossers and different key attackers is the ability that Mikel Arteta, who has saved choosing him, values in him most – in an Arsenal facet who’ve barely performed with a pure centre ahead for the final three seasons.
“The expectation is always to score, and we demand much more than that,” mentioned Arteta of Gyokeres after the Chelsea sport, branding it a “really good performance”. “Viktor has been distinctive in lots of departments.
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Mikel Arteta spoke to Sky Sports activities to mirror on win for his Arsenal facet however admits it may have been higher.
“What he brings to the team, it’s a lot. Sometimes I understand that people cannot appreciate it, we certainly do that and on top of that he got rewarded with a goal.”
Amidst the noise surrounding his lack of targets, there have been indicators beneath the floor that Gyokeres was beginning to supply extra.
That even got here within the first half at Stamford Bridge, the place the Swede rolled away from a defender noticed a deflected shot whistle previous the far nook.
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Jamie Redknapp and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink focus on whether or not Viktor Gyokeres ought to have been flagged offside for Arsenal’s opener in opposition to Chelsea within the Carabao Cup semi-final, following Antoine Semenyo’s disallowed purpose in opposition to Newcastle.
In one other 3-2 away win – this time at Bournemouth – Gyokeres occupied a number of defenders as he chased a Gabriel Martinelli flick-on. These defenders have been dragged away, leaving Declan Rice on the sting of the field to get a Martin Odegaard flick and rating his first purpose of the night time.
Rice recognised it: “Without him making that run from Gabi [Martinelli’s] flick and holding it, and setting it to Martin, the goal would not have happened for us to turn the game on its head.
“I see this man each day. I see his ending, how onerous he hits a ball. When that house arrives for him and the ball’s arriving at his ft to attain targets, he’ll 100 per cent rating.
“But defenders in the Premier League want to be able stop Viktor Gyokeres because he’s one of the best strikers in the world – naturally when you play the best players.
“It is powerful for him as a result of he is received two defenders on him all sport, so he has to make use of his energy or no matter he can to assist the crew.
“Trust me, he’s doing unbelievably for us. We wouldn’t be where we are without him.”
So possibly that is the beginning of a brighter interval forward for Gyokeres – however there’s nonetheless work to do. Consistency is essential – and we’ve got been right here with the Arsenal striker earlier than.
Gyokeres scored twice in opposition to Atletico Madrid, received one other in opposition to Burnley 10 days later – however then dipped off. He received a confidence-boosting penalty at Everton.
“Of course, his best quality is putting the ball in the back of the net, but he was in those positions many times today,” mentioned Arteta. A couple of extra targets within the coming video games and Gyokeres might transfer away from all of the unfavorable tags he has been handed currently.
