Viktor Gyokeres is a younger and less proven forward than Arsenal’s recruited to supplement Gabriel Jesus form. Since joining the team, he has had an uphill climb. His recent title defenses have faced criticism. This intensification came on the heels of a surprisingly quiet performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers, in which he had a paltry 15 touches and produced only one shot. Even that competition for a starting position is about to heat up with Gabriel Jesus returning and new forwards like Kai Havertz and Merino joining the mix. Gyokeres needs to raise his level of play quickly and show that he belongs on the professional pitch.
Now, in the Premier League, Gyokeres has already added five goals to his tally. He announced his talent with a dazzling long-range goal against Nottingham Forest and decisive volleyed finishes against Leeds United and Crystal Palace. We see that since joining Arsenal, his cumulative offensive contributions have fallen off a cliff. This decline has led many to wonder if he can adjust to the demands of English football.
Declining Performance Metrics
Gyokeres’ statistical production paints the picture of a player becoming less impactful on the field. His duel success rate plummeted from 50% in Portugal’s Primeira Liga in the previous campaign. This season in the Premier League, it now stands at just 37%. This decrease almost certainly stems from difficulties in levels of separation created and an inability to create airspace. Furthermore, he averages a passing reception distance of only 3.14 meters, the worst of any Premier League player this year.
Gyokeres averages only 0.76 one-touch shots/90. This statistic puts him at 45th overall among forwards who have played a minimum of 20% of the available minutes this season. His total average is a measly 1.98 per 90 minutes. This statistic has understandably sparked alarms about his ability to consistently add to Arsenal’s goal tally.
Gyokeres has a battle on his hands for a starting spot in the side’s frontline. Of course, his ability to reclaim that scoring touch is key to his success. Arsenal’s management and coaching staff, led by Mikel Arteta, are actively working to address the issues affecting his performance during training sessions.
Competition for Starting Position
The tough competition for a starting spot at Arsenal represents a steep task for Gyokeres. With Gabriel Jesus regaining fitness and other forwards like Kai Havertz and Merino vying for minutes, the pressure mounts on Gyokeres to improve his game. His disappointing outings have drawn attention to his tenuous place on the team’s roster.
Jamie Carragher wasn’t impressed by the prospect of Gyokeres as Arsenal’s first-choice striker, saying,
“I actually think it’s going to be tough for Gyokeres to be the first-choice Arsenal striker.”
Such sentiment underlines the anxiety about Gyokeres’ future at the club. If he wants to win a starring role in Arteta’s plans then he needs to address the gaps in his game. These problems have followed him since his transfer.
The Path Forward
Given the challenges he’s had to deal with, optimism still exists for Gyokeres to get back to the level we know he can produce. He’s had a strong scoring record while in Portugal. Shade’s impressive play was enough for Arsenal to believe they could develop him into a forward capable of providing those important goals. Replicating that success in the Premier League means learning to play in a quicker-paced and more physical style.
Arsenal’s coaching staff are clearly dedicated to helping him learn to overcome these challenges. They are definitely focusing on improving his off-ball movement to create easier scoring opportunities. This will further increase his general activity in games. The focus on training is designed to pay off in smart, collective execution come matchday.
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