Viktor Gyokeres scored Arsenal’s only goal in their 2-1 defeat to Southampton.
The Gunners don’t have a lot of positives to take from their FA Cup quarter-final loss, but there were a few promising signs.
Everyone is raving about Max Dowman, and rightly so. The teenager was Arsenal’s best player by a distance, and has made a good case for getting more game time in the coming weeks.
However, what Gyokeres did when he scored his goal should not go unnoticed.
Who was the worst performer for Arsenal against Southampton?
Viktor Gyokeres corrected his movement inside the box vs Southampton
One of our biggest criticisms of Viktor Gyokeres since he joined Arsenal has been his movement inside the box.
The Swede constantly improved with his hold-up play, and he always made many runs in behind, only to be ignored by his teammates.
However, inside the box, Gyokeres just seemed obsessed with making his way to the far post instead of staying central or charging aggressively to the near post.
That used to be so frustrating to watch for Arsenal fans, but against Southampton on Saturday, Gyokeres’ movement inside the box for his goal was perfect.
Instead of running to the far post like he usually does when Kai Havertz got on the ball, the former Sporting man stayed central and made himself available for the pass.
Once he received it, he slotted the ball home brilliantly, levelling the game.
It’s a shame that Arsenal didn’t capitalise on the goal and go on to win the game, but we really liked what we saw from Gyokeres.
If his movement remains the same or improves from now, it could be a game-changer for the Gunners in the business end of the season.
What did you make of Viktor Gyokeres’ cameo during Southampton vs Arsenal?
Viktor Gyokeres looks more confident than ever at Arsenal
Gyokeres single-handedly led Sweden to the World Cup by scoring a hat-trick against Ukraine and a late winner against Poland.
That must have given him a huge confidence boost, and his cameo against Southampton on Saturday night showed that.
After scoring his goal, Gyokeres stepped up to take a free-kick from over 30 yards out, which is something we haven’t seen him do in the famous red and white.
Yes, the free-kick didn’t even beat the wall, but the confidence he showed to take it on is a real positive, and fans should be encouraged.
Arsenal’s next game is against Sporting CP, the club that made it extremely difficult for Gyokeres to secure his dream move to the Emirates last summer.
We’re sure the Swede would love to get his revenge, and with the confidence he has right now, we won’t be surprised if he finds the net in the Champions League on Tuesday.
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