Viktor Gyokeres: Gyok Hard

[BigPoppaPump]

Let's be honest the midfielders can't create chances and the wingers are actually the worst set of wingers in the league he has no chance out there.

 

[TakeChillPill]

Should've put away the chance at the end. The other chance was deflected. So I can give him a pass on that.

But he should be getting 3-4 chances like that a game.

If you ever watch Halaand he misses as many as he puts away. Same with Henry.

The only CF I've seen at arsenal who was one shot one goal was Eduardo before his injury.

He's a top goal scorer. But we have to create chances for him. Simple as that. If go on strike if I was a CF at this club.

 

[BaZZe]

Should've put away the chance at the end. The other chance was deflected. So I can give him a pass on that.

But he should be getting 3-4 chances like that a game.

If you ever watch Halaand he misses as many as he puts away. Same with Henry.

The only CF I've seen at arsenal who was one shot one goal was Eduardo before his injury.

He's a top goal scorer. But we have to create chances for him. Simple as that. If go on strike if I was a CF at this club.

I'd argue he's really good at converting the chances he gets, better than Haaland. He just don't get enough of them.

Also I swear that offside goal he scored was pretty close actually? I swear Jimenez almost looked like he played him on. I didn't get a good look but I'm surprised it wasn't looked at closer because I swear he was almost level with him.

 

[bojed]

I thinks he packs on too much muscle.

Anyone still remember when Sagna suddenly appeared like a bodybuilder ? He was very strong alright but it came at the expense of his speed and mobility. He shed off a little bit a few months after and went back to his best.

 

[Fabregasm]

Looks like I am in the minority. Normally I appreciate what he brings to the team especially when he is unfairly scapegoated but this was a game where he really should have taken his chances. At least get it on target for both the late chances, and also the header attempt was unbelievably poor.

The kind of clutch games where we play like crap but need some individual brilliance to win it for us... Seen those many times by Salah, Kane or Haaland. But I just find it hard to blame him for this game because rest of our attackers are worse off than him. The lack of ability to create is as criminal to lack of finishing

 

[Aubamabludclat94]

Im never gonna blame a striker playing for a team like we played today lmao. We couldn’t even get out our own half, much less think about getting shots on targets

 

[Aubamabludclat94]

I'd argue he's really good at converting the chances he gets, better than Haaland. He just don't get enough of them.

Also I swear that offside goal he scored was pretty close actually? I swear Jimenez almost looked like he played him on. I didn't get a good look but I'm surprised it wasn't looked at closer because I swear he was almost level with him.

It was close but I do still think it was off

 

[Moah]

He is now the striker with most epl goals under Arteta. This says everything that needs to be said.

 

[bergholt]

Arsenal top scorers (all comps) by season

2025-26: Gyokeres 18*
2024-25: Havertz 15
2023-24: Saka 20
2022-23: Martinelli, Ødegaard, Saka 15
2021-22: Saka 12
2020-21: Lacazette 17
2019-20: Aubameyang 29
2018-19: Aubameyang 31
2017-18: Lacazette 17
2016-17: Sanchez 30
2015-16: Giroud 24
2014-15: Sanchez 24
2013-14: Giroud 18
2012-13: Podolski, Walcott 15
2011-12: Van Persie 34
2010-11: Van Persie 20
2009-10: Fabregas 19
2008-09: Van Persie 16
2007-08: Adebayor 27
2006-07: Van Persie 12
2005-06: Henry 32

I mean he hasn't set the world on fire but he's stayed fit and kept working hard and got some reward, more than any forward in years except that one world-class Saka season.

if he could somehow sneak two more over the remaining month or so to get to 20 goals, I think that would be a really excellent first season for us.

 

[Topside]

He will never be world class but is a good striker who has a great mindset his penalty record shows that and only Rice is behind him in being able to strike a ball hard and clean in this squad.

The wing service this season to him has been poverty, various reasons, slow build up and also availability but bar a fit Saka which we simply haven't seen. Midfield service again, too slow, too predictable.

The left wing especially Trossard/Martinelli simply have not delivered any consistency. Eze when left played the one decent assist to him I can remember against Forest early in the season, first time cross.

Gyokeres likes to run the left channel especially, we rarely see it low block opponents helped by low tempo build up.

 

[OnlyOne]

Defending Gyökeres ignores the real problem. When he can’t hold the ball or win headers, Arsenal struggle to keep possession and build attacks. The midfield can’t join in, and the team loses its rhythm. In the end, it makes the whole system weaker.

 

[grange]

When he can’t hold the ball or win headers, Arsenal struggle to keep possession and build attacks. The midfield can’t join in, and the team loses its rhythm. In the end, it makes the whole system weaker.

The system should've changed two seasons ago. Mik's obsession with duel winning and other nonsense has caused stagnation and the team can't actually play football through the middle anymore. This is 100% a manager's failure problem.

 

[ThisFather]

Legit could have bought a centre back to play as striker with this style of play. Zero service. Wingers are 500 light years away from you. Just win headers, press opposition and be a big body up front to wrestle the defenders.

 

[bergholt]

Legit could have bought a centre back to play as striker with this style of play. Zero service. Wingers are 500 light years away from you. Just win headers, press opposition and be a big body up front to wrestle the defenders.

yeah that's not untrue, and that's why Merino can drop in there without too many issues

 

[Rain Dance]

yeah that's not untrue, and that's why Merino can drop in there without too many issues

Merino has a special trait tho, he has an instinct on where the ball would drop

 

[Batman]

Defending Gyökeres ignores the real problem. When he can’t hold the ball or win headers, Arsenal struggle to keep possession and build attacks. The midfield can’t join in, and the team loses its rhythm. In the end, it makes the whole system weaker.

The problem with the system as it relates to him is trying to make him a target man when he's not one. You see his offside goal? He gets one pass like that every 3 matches. A serious club would feed him 5 or 6 of those a game. That's how you use him. If White doesn't hesitate, that's a goal. His run was perfectly timed.

A serious club would have started spamming that exact pass until we either scored or forced them to drop their line enough to let us put them under sustained pressure in their third but it's marginally offside and we never attempt it again. Half of the managers in the PL would have him on 5-7 more goals just by playing to his strengths instead of expecting him to do something he's not good at with no support. Every club we play against including the relegation fodder sees that offside goal and keeps visiting the well until we adapt to it. We refuse to take what's on offer if it's not in the manager's script.

 

[bergholt]

Merino has a special trait tho, he has an instinct on where the ball would drop

We've missed him way more than I personally thought we would have

 

[OnlyOne]

The problem with the system as it relates to him is trying to make him a target man when he's not one. You see his offside goal? He gets one pass like that every 3 matches. A serious club would feed him 5 or 6 of those a game. That's how you use him. If White doesn't hesitate, that's a goal. His run was perfectly timed.

A serious club would have started spamming that exact pass until we either scored or forced them to drop their line enough to let us put them under sustained pressure in their third but it's marginally offside and we never attempt it again. Half of the managers in the PL would have him on 5-7 more goals just by playing to his strengths instead of expecting him to do something he's not good at with no support. Every club we play against including the relegation fodder sees that offside goal and keeps visiting the well until we adapt to it. We refuse to take what's on offer if it's not in the manager's script.

My problem with this though is unless it's perfect Gyokeres doesn't have the speed or power to get an attempt off.

We've seen loads of example of him break through and ultimately get caught. I do agree we don't play to his strengths.

 

[Batman]

My problem with this though is unless it's perfect Gyokeres doesn't have the speed or power to get an attempt off.

We've seen loads of example of him break through and ultimately get caught. I do agree we don't play to his strengths.

He plays his part for sure. There are moments he could do better but strikers below the absolutely top level need volume we don't provide.

 

[2Smokeyy]

He plays his part for sure. There are moments he could do better but strikers below the absolutely top level need volume we don't provide.

This. Not sure what the average shots on target are for PL strikers (maybe @Trilly or someone else is aware) but I saw one of the stat crunching accounts on X which had him down as 18 shots on target throughout this PL season which seems awfully low I’m assuming compared to other strikers in the top 10 PL clubs given the amount of games he’s played for us thus far.

A bit surprising that he’s even on 12 PL goals looking at those figures.