Robbie Earle has revealed that he actually thought Viktor Gyokeres showed some encouraging signs in Arsenal’s win over Fulham on Saturday evening.
Mikel Arteta’s team secured all three points at Craven Cottage, courtesy of a second-half strike from Leandro Trossard.
Trossard tapped home at the back post after Gabriel Magalhaes had flicked on Bukayo Saka’s corner, with this result moving the Gunners three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Gyokeres has received criticism for his display, although Earle was enthused by one aspect of the striker’s outing.
Robbie Earle says Viktor Gyokeres made ‘a couple of great runs’ in Fulham vs Arsenal
There’s no doubt that Gyokeres struggled against Fulham.
The Swede was hardly in the game in the first half, although when he did manage to find space and time in the box, he lacked conviction with his finishing.
It’s clear that the player is struggling with his confidence, not producing the type of clinical finishing that Sporting fans became accustomed to seeing in Portugal last season.
Arteta revealed that he was ‘begging’ for Gyokeres to score at Craven Cottage, although the goal didn’t ultimately come, despite managing three shots from promising positions.
Speaking on the 2 Robbies Podcast, Earle claimed that, at the very least, the centre-forward made a ‘couple of great runs’ against the Cottagers.
“The centre forward, Gyokeres, who is on three goals, is it seven without one now?” Earle asked.
“His manager said as long as he was doing the job, and he did make a couple of great runs, got in a couple of good spots, didn’t have the finish that he would like, and that’s got to hopefully come.
“That’s got to turn into 10, 12 to 15 goals.”
Viktor Gyokeres’ movement in and around the box is excellent
While Earle was still somewhat critical with his assessment, stating that Gyokeres has to reach double figures, his lenient point about the player’s movement was reasonable.
In and around the box, the number nine’s movement is dangerous. He is capable of making short darts into the space behind the opposition defence and regularly finds himself in these positions inside the box.
This was on show on numerous occasions against Fulham, and Arsenal players are still refraining from finding these runs at times.
In the first half, he was slipped in by Declan Rice and Saka, and both were excellent examples of him playing on the last line and looking to exploit space.
He merely needs to start making more of these opportunities, not just with the finishing but taking more time to line up an easier shot, rather than snatching at efforts.
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