Viktor Gyokeres: Arsenal striker has gone six games without a goal - so how is he helping Mikel Arteta's team?
Key Takeaways
- Viktor Gyokeres is currently experiencing a goal drought at Arsenal, failing to score in his last six matches.
- Despite the lack of goals, Arsenal management and teammates highly value his contribution, particularly his off-the-ball work.
- Gyokeres excels at stretching the opposition's back four and creating space, which is a key tactical requirement for Mikel Arteta.
- His goalscoring rate is significantly lower than his prolific average at former club Sporting CP.
- Data suggests Gyokeres makes a high number of runs challenging the defensive line, opening opportunities for teammates.
Viktor Gyokeres arrived at Arsenal with a formidable goalscoring record from Sporting, leading to expectations that he was the final piece of the puzzle for the Gunners. Despite this pedigree, he is currently experiencing a goal drought, failing to score in his last six appearances, which has caused some concern, especially given his history of frustration after just a few goalless games. His current return of three goals in ten matches is not disastrous, but it falls short of the 35 goals he averaged in Portugal, and he notably failed to register a shot in recent big matches. Nevertheless, the mood at Arsenal remains positive, with manager Mikel Arteta and teammate Bukayo Saka emphasizing that Gyokeres's contribution off the ball is invaluable. Arteta specifically points to how Gyokeres stretches the back four and opens up crucial spaces, a tactical necessity for Arsenal's system, evidenced by his high rate of runs challenging the defensive line. Former coaches and managers also laud his world-class movement, suggesting his impact is being reflected in team success even if the goal numbers lag behind.
