Hit or Hype? Judging Viktor Gyökeres’ Start at Arsenal

When Arsenal completed the signing of Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP for a deal worth up to £64 million, there was a sense that Mikel Arteta had finally found the striker Arsenal had been looking for. At 27, the Swedish forward arrived in North London at the peak of his powers, fresh from a stunning season in Portugal where he scored a whopping 54 goals and recorded 12 assists in 52 appearances. His mix of power, movement, and composure in front of goal made him one of the deadliest strikers in world football, a forward capable of unsettling opposing defences.

For Arsenal, the move represented more than just another addition to their attacking line. It was a statement of intent, designed to finally bridge the gap and claim the Premier League title they craved. Gyökeres would supply the proven, guaranteed goal-scoring presence Arsenal had been missing. His arrival promised not only goals but tactical evolution, providing a unique key to unlock the league's most stubborn defences and introducing a new dimension to how Arsenal attack opponents.

Early Impact and Tactical Transformation

Tactically, Gyökeres’ success lies in his dual-threat nature. He is simultaneously the target man and the playmaking pivot. He excels at pinning opposition centre-backs, engaging in physical battles that create valuable pockets of space for Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, and Noni Madueke to exploit from wide areas. This hold-up play, combined with his exceptional passing vision, means he is often the starting point for moves that he will eventually finish.

Perhaps the most telling metric of his influence is his work rate off the ball. His physical resilience is perhaps the most telling metric of his influence. He consistently shields the ball in impossible positions, drawing crucial fouls in deep areas that allow Arsenal's midfield to reset and gain territory. This consistent ability to secure possession under the immense defensive scrutiny of the Premier League is vital for maintaining offensive rhythm.

The immediate concern for any high-profile signing is the initial lack of goals in a top team. However, Gyökeres does more than score and has become a truly underrated part of Arsenal's attack, unfortunately going under the radar and being slammed by football fans due to his lack of goals and assists. His powerful, driving runs, particularly when transitioning from defence to attack, have added a verticality that Arsenal previously lacked.

This allows the wingers, especially Saka and Madueke, to have more time and space. This occurs because opposition defenders concentrate on Gyökeres' movements, preventing him from breaking the line and limiting their ability to double-mark Saka as frequently as usual. Before Noni Madueke's unfortunate injury, he looked very exciting and dangerous off the right, whilst Saka's return has seen him return to his best and, in fact, is given more opportunities on the right side. While Gyökeres may not be scoring like he was at Sporting, this will come with time once he has learned the system and, more importantly, the system has learned Gyökeres and his strengths. His hold-up ability, dangerous runs, and box presence do a lot to keep the opposition busy, and while many may not think he contributes enough for the team, he undoubtedly does.

Regardless, Gyökeres has netted 3 goals in 9 starts, which, while not totally exciting, has still included crucial goals. He scored a brace in the comfortable win against Leeds and netted an important goal against Forest to seal the victory. In recent games, he has received more of the ball, picking up possession in the box and getting more shots on target. The goals will come, but for now, his contributions both on and off the ball are strengthening the team’s play as he adapts to a new league and system.

The Need for Clinical Urgency

The primary need for improvement lies in clinical finishing and case conversion. There is a clear necessity for quicker reaction times in the box and a faster transition when the ball is laid back to his feet. The Premier League represents a significant step up in pace and defensive quality compared to the Portuguese league; every half-second of hesitation is capitalised upon by defenders. Although he showcased his quality in the Champions League for Sporting, playing week in week out in the high-intensity environment of the Premier League is a completely different stage and requires instantaneous decision-making and execution. To unlock his full goal-scoring potential, these fine margins in speed of thought and action must be ironed out.

Ultimately, it is far too early to call Gyökeres a 'flop' or a failure. Fans should not be concerned and should not be criticising a player who is performing well for a team that has sometimes struggled offensively. Until he stops contributing altogether and starts missing open chances and big opportunities, then the criticism remains premature and unduly harsh. He certainly has much to improve on, but it will not be long until the goals start flowing when he becomes more settled and the team begin playing into his strengths more consistently. Once Kai Havertz returns from injury, his workload will decrease, which should allow him some time to rest, as he has looked visually tired in recent weeks. All signs suggest he will be firing on all cylinders by the new year at a minimum.

This leads us directly to the key area of focus for the remainder of the campaign: how will Gyökeres continue to influence Arsenal’s collective tactical approach? Does his presence change the responsibilities of the midfielders, and how will Arteta continue to exploit his unique skill set against the league’s most stubborn defensive structures?