For Viktor Gyokeres, it’s been doom and gloom since his move to Arsenal in July. His Statcast performance metrics tell a different story, though, with a troubling downturn in his production. He came in with tremendous expectations to have a strong, immediate impact. Looking at his recent numbers, it’s clear he’s not keeping up with the expectations of the Premier League. As Arsenal fans look for signs of improvement, questions arise regarding Gyokeres’s adaptation to his new environment and his ability to shoulder the attacking responsibilities within the squad.
The stats show us that Gyokeres has around 3.14 meters of space to receive the ball on average, per GeniusIQ. His striking capabilities have suffered. He averages only 0.76 one-touch shots per 90 minutes, ranking him 45th among all forwards this season. In summary, he only averages 1.98 shots per 90 minutes in the entire league. These figures couldn’t be more stark compared to his previous runs. He had a considerably higher tally at this same juncture of his debut season, showing just how far this creative force has faltered in establishing a rhythm at Arsenal.
Gyokeres’s Declining Output
Ever since making the transfer to Arsenal, Gyokeres’s goal production has tanked, drawing the ire of supporters and pundits as well. His current tally of five Premier League goals includes a notable long-range strike against Nottingham Forest and impressive volleyed finishes against Leeds and Crystal Palace. These flashes of greatness have been marred by a series of inconsistent performance and a lack of engagement on the pitch.
In last weekend’s game against Wolves, Gyokeres had a paltry 15 touches to go along with just one shot on goal. Such a performance would be cause for concern at any tactical position, especially for someone who served as his team’s most prominent attacking outlet. He squandered key chances, including a clear low cutback from Bukayo Saka in the first half. He has been surprised by Declan Rice’s pass in Aston Villa.
Even still, Gyokeres has really risen to the occasion in carrying much of the attacking load. Through it all, Harris has proven to be that crucial X-factor as the young season’s early months. This responsibility is especially onerous, and even more so in a dog-eat-dog league such as the Premier League.
“We need to understand him a little bit better in certain situations,” – Mikel Arteta
Adapting to Premier League Challenges
Gyokere s is not the only player who’s struggled making the leap to the Premier League. Most players go through a bedding-in period as they get used to the speed, intensity, and tactical requirements of the English game. Historical precedent is rife with all the big-name signings early on that flopped at first before hitting their stride.
Gyokeres finds himself in a tricky place because of his impressive numbers thus far. They show a jarring gap between him and other creative playing-machine forwards such as Erling Haaland. Gyokeres’s runs are being aimed for passes on more occasions than Hugo Ekitike’s at Liverpool or Haaland’s at Man City. Unfortunately, those runs haven’t meant a whole lot in the way of new goal-scoring chances.
The pressure intensifies as he prepares to compete for his place in the starting lineup with the imminent return of Kai Havertz, alongside established forwards Gabriel Jesus and Martin Merino. Having competition is only going to test Gyokeres to raise his game even more. If he hopes to fight for his place in Mikel Arteta’s plans going forward, he needs to improve his play.
The Road Ahead for Gyokeres
Moving forward, Gyokeres needs to do more to actively work for better production on the pitch. On the pitch, he is quickly adjusting to Arsenal’s new style of play. Greater success with shot conversion rate and overall engagement in games for him is absolutely critical for his development. Beyond just the numbers, the club’s coaching staff is probably working closely with him to polish how he’s positioning himself in games and when he should be making certain moves.
His current average of 3.14 meters of separation on completed passes is the highest mark in the league. This shows that he has numerous windows to take advantage of. Gyokeres can be even more effective by being more dangerous on these opportunities. This will be key in rejuvenating Arsenal’s attack as they look to reclaim their throne atop the league table.
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