Arsenal steamrolled to a 5-0 win over Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Gunners struggled in the opening half an hour against Daniel Farke’s side, but finally found the breakthrough when Jurrien Timber nodded home from a Declan Rice corner.
Bukayo Saka’s thunderous strike from an angle doubled the North Londoners’ lead on the stroke of half-time, before Viktor Gyokeres scored a brace in the second period, and Jurrien Timber added another to ensure Mikel Arteta’s side claimed all three points.
The signing of Eberechi Eze was announced prior to the game, meaning it was a superb evening for Arsenal.
The critical moment that proves Viktor Gyokeres will succeed at Arsenal
In the 16th minute at the Emirates on Saturday evening, Arsenal managed their first moment of danger against the Yorkshire outfit.
The Gunners pressed Farke’s side inside their own box, with Martin Zubimendi expertly biting in to win the ball off Pascal Struijk.
It found its way to Gyokeres in the process, who stabbed wide of the goal in an uncharacteristically rushed fashion.
His first shot in Arsenal colours, it wasn’t the most glamorous advertisement of his talents.
Gary Neville criticised Gyokeres for the finish, claiming it showed a lack of conviction in front of goal.
That said, this was the first moment Arsenal fans have seen the centre-forward come alive inside the box and let his predatory instincts take over.
On another day, when fitter and with more confidence flowing through his veins, Gyokeres takes a touch, turns and buries the chance.
Before this moment, fans were worried that the player wouldn’t get the volume of chances he received in Portugal, and would struggle to get on the end of moves in the box, particularly after his lacklustre showing at Old Trafford.
This moment against Leeds proved otherwise.
Viktor Gyokeres’ statistics vs Leeds
Quiet in the first half, Gyokeres grew into the match as Arsenal started to assert more dominance.
The Swede wasn’t on the ball as frequently as he would’ve liked, but he ended the game with two goals, which is what he’ll ultimately be judged on.
| Viktor Gyokeres’ Statistics vs Leeds | |
| Minutes Played | 90 |
| Touches | 24 |
| Shots | 3 |
| Expected Goals | 1.3 |
| Key Passes | 0 |
| Accurate Passes | 4/9 (44%) |
| Touches in Opposition Box | 6 |
| Aerial Duels Won | 4/5 (80%) |
Completing just four of nine passes for the second consecutive game, Arteta will want Gyokeres to be slightly more involved moving forward.
That said, he still managed three shots, six touches in the opposition penalty area, and showed an improvement in the air.
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