Viktor Gyokeres hasn’t hit the ground running as Arsenal would’ve hoped, but it can’t be something Mikel Arteta didn’t anticipate.
In the summer, Arsenal’s race to sign a striker simmered down to two options: Benjamin Sesko or Gyokeres.
There were pros and cons regarding both players, as it was unknown whether either would be able to translate their ability in Germany and Portugal to England.
That concern has very much played out thus far, as Sesko is struggling at Manchester United while Gyokeres is a passenger at times for Arsenal.
Arsenal knew Viktor Gyokeres found Ruben Amorim’s system perfect
Fascinatingly, Josh Kroenke wanted to sign Sesko instead of Gyokeres, but it was Andrea Berta who made the call to recruit the Swede.
While Gyokeres has scored more goals at Arsenal than Sesko has at United, a conversation needs to be had regarding whether the Gunners made the right choice.
Berta and his team would’ve done extensive groundwork on Gyokeres; however, it was a comment from the striker himself that really should’ve sounded alarm bells.
Speaking to L’Equipe in July, just weeks before his transfer to Arsenal, the 27-year-old indicated what makes him thrive: Ruben Amorim’s system.
“The style of play we had under him suited me perfectly,” Gyokeres said of Amorim.
Picture this: It’s 2028, is Viktor Gyokeres a prolific goalscorer at Arsenal?
“We won two championships in a row for the first time in 71 years. It’s an incredible achievement and, of course, Ruben Amorim played a big part in that. I can’t thank him enough.”
As Manchester United know too well, Amorim is a firm believer in his 3-4-2-1 system, something he’s never been open to changing.
In that formation, Gyokeres had two attackers playing freely behind him as well as wide support from the wing-backs.
At Arsenal, Arteta’s tactical demands couldn’t be more different, playing a regimented 4-3-3, which often sees a significant gap appear between midfield and the front three.
Gyokeres’ struggles are unsurprising
Against Club Brugge in Arsenal’s most recent game, Gyokeres was starved of the action, which could be attributed to how isolated he was.
What surprises you most about Arsenal’s positioning against Club Brugge?
All it takes is a glance at Arsenal’s average positioning against Club Brugge to see what Gyokeres’ biggest issue is.
Playmaker Martin Odegaard played so deep, leaving a clear space between attack and midfield, which, while making the wingers tick, left the striker completely isolated.
Something has to give if Gyokeres is to succeed at Arsenal, as there’s only so much the summer signing can do.
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