Viktor Gyokeres’ early struggles are under the microscope right now as the Arsenal striker continues to find his feet.
The recent feedback on Gyokeres has been harsh, considering that the Swede has newly returned from injury.
Mikel Arteta’s summer signing wasn’t going to immediately return at the level he left at before his injury, but pressure is mounting.
Injury aside, Gyokeres does need to improve his output, having scored six goals in his opening 19 appearances for the Gunners, and an unlikely figure thinks he knows how to get the forward ticking.
If you could go back in time and sign another striker for Arsenal instead of Viktor Gyokeres, who would it be and why?
Phil Jones says Viktor Gyokeres needs to improve
Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones was talking about Gyokeres on the Sports Illustrated Football Club Show.
He might’ve been a centre-back, but being a Premier League winner, Jones has worked with some of the best forwards in the business, understanding what it takes to thrive at the top.
“I’d like to see a little bit more from him,” Jones said of Gyokeres.
“For the signing Arsenal made, and what they want him to do, he has to show more at a club like Arsenal. If they want to win the league, he’s got to deliver more.”
The Englishman then listed three things he’d like to see the 27-year-old improve on to see results at Arsenal.
“I’d like to see better movement in the box, and I’d like to see him arriving from deep more effectively. When he’s linking the play, it needs to improve — it has to be more well-rounded.
“He’s done well, but ‘doing well’ isn’t going to be enough if Arsenal want to win the league.”
With the league title on Arteta’s mind, Gyokeres must be wary of competition in the Arsenal squad, as right now, he’s at risk of slipping down the pecking order.
Gyokeres’ stats reveal exactly why things aren’t working
While it’s regrettably the striker who is getting the heat, it’s not entirely Gyokeres’ fault that he’s not scoring more goals.
Those around him need to fully adapt to having an out-and-out number nine of the Swede’s profile, as right now, Arteta’s summer signing is far too isolated.
Picture this: It’s 2028, is Viktor Gyokeres a prolific goalscorer at Arsenal?
The numbers prove it, as Gyokeres ranks incredibly low among Premier League strikers when it comes to per 90 statistics, as per FBref.
The centre-forward is in the bottom 17% of Premier League strikers for his average of 1.89 shots per 90, a shadow of Erling Haaland’s top 6% average of 3.74.
The same can be said for his low average of attempted passes and touches, with each metric evidence of how isolated Gyokeres currently is.
If the Arsenal squad can begin to dance to Gyokeres’ tune, doubts won’t be had about the striker for long, with his transfer being a lesson in adaptation for both himself and his teammates.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
