Alan Shearer thinks Mikel Arteta made crucial change vs Leeds to transform Viktor Gyokeres

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Just like he did after Arsenal’s opening day win, Viktor Gyokeres generated a lot of attention on match day two.

After collecting harsh criticism at Old Trafford, Gyokeres was Arsenal’s protagonist again, but this time, for the right reasons. 

The Swede scored his first two Premier League goals, scoring a terrific goal that epitomised his threat and then converting a penalty.  

It was a day to remember for the £64m signing, but it wasn’t all rosy, as in the first half, it’s fair to say that the striker struggled for a familiar reason.

• READ MORE: Mikel Arteta already proven right on Viktor Gyokeres claim after just two Arsenal games

Alan Shearer noticed Arsenal’s shift after half-time

Defenders will take note of Gyokeres’ threat that came when his teammates started playing to his strengths. 

Just like at Old Trafford, the striker made countless attempts to run in behind, but Arsenal’s front line just couldn’t get the ball to him soon enough.

In the second half, that changed, and Alan Shearer believes the switch was because of Mikel Arteta’s half-time team talk. 

Analysing Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Leeds on BBC’s Match of the Day, Shearer admitted he was ‘sure’ what Arteta’s plea in the interval was. 

“90 seconds into the second half, I’m sure Arteta has said something at half-time, first-time balls.

“When you’ve got someone who can run like he can and they play a high line, you have to play an early ball. He gets his goal all because of that first-time ball and running behind.”

Shearer pinpointed the opportunities Gyokeres would’ve had in the first half, had he and his teammates been on the same wavelength.

Arteta undoubtedly saw the same issues that the pundit did, prompting Shearer to share his suspicions that the Arsenal manager called for quicker service to his striker in the second half. 

Less than two minutes after the restart, Riccardo Calafiori played a direct ball over the top, Gyokeres got on the end of it, and lo and behold, the Swede found the back of the net. 

Arsenal turned it up a notch in the second half

It’s well known that Arsenal are superior at holding leads, but unlike the opening day win over Manchester United, the Gunners realised they hadn’t done enough. 

Despite being 2-0 up at the interval, the hosts came out in the second half refreshed and with a point to prove.

It wasn’t only Gyokeres who benefited from whatever was said at half-time, as Arsenal as a collective turned it up to Leeds’ dismay. 

From furthering their hold on the game through possession to more than doubling the expected goals metric, Arsenal weren’t letting Leeds get away without experiencing a demolition. 

Whether we’ll see such freedom next week against Liverpool is difficult to envisage, but being able to see out games in different ways is something that could make the difference this year.