Arsenal faced their first Premier League test without Viktor Gyokeres as the striker continues to nurse a hamstring injury.
Gyokeres is expected to return after the international break after being withdrawn at half-time during the Gunners’ win over Burnley.
It was no Gyokeres, no problem in midweek when Arsenal beat Slavia Prague 3-0 as Mikel Merino took over the goalscoring duty, netting a brace.
Against Sunderland, however, the outlook was largely different, as the 27-year-old’s presence was sorely missed during Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light.
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Arsenal really missed Viktor Gyokeres against Sunderland
The verdict is still out on Arsenal’s £63m signing, but after what unfolded in the North East, it’s clearer than ever to see how he’s impacted Mikel Arteta’s attack.
Sunderland found a way to trouble Arsenal, but with Gyokeres on side, it’s so frequently the other way around, as the Swede’s best attributes cause chaos, with or without goals.
Gyokeres’ tireless approach when pressing was missing, causing Sunderland’s defence to be more comfortable than anticipated, as the back five was rarely stretched.
There was a Gyokeres-shaped void missing in the final third for Arsenal, which was something fans discussed during the action at the Stadium of Light.
Arsenal fans didn’t stop talking about Gyokeres during the Sunderland draw
On X, the Swedish striker was a talking point throughout the contest, with fans coming to the same conclusion about his absence.
“The truth is, if we had Gyokeres upfront, it would have been a different game entirely,” one Arsenal supporter said.
The opinion was shared by many, with one fan saying that Gyokeres’ injury was the ‘biggest reason’ that points were dropped.
“Our attack was very weak because of Gyokeres, nobody to give their defence a battle, so they all came at our defence.”
“When I said Gyokeres was signed for smaller games, I meant games like last night… that’s where we often drop points and where he usually gets a goal. Missing him last night is the biggest reason we didn’t win.”
“U just know Gyokeres would have given them more work to do inside their box,” a fan said, as others noticed his glaring absence.
“Sunderland defenders won’t have the audacity to be moving inside our box if there was Gyokeres to keep them busy, and this is why we missed him.
“What Gyokeres offers to this Arsenal team is much more than Goals. Don’t let any tactico gaslight you because we have a monster in him.”
Two Gooners commented on the impact Gyokeres’ layoff had on Saka’s ability to trouble Sunderland on the right flank.
“Gyokeres doesn’t play, and all of a sudden, defenders remember Saka can be triple-marked. You still don’t see his use?”
“Gyokeres made defenders double-team him every single time, giving the wingers constant 1v1s. He’s gone, and Saka is back to being marked by two guys, and we look as bad as we looked last season, no agenda, just facts.”
Gyokeres was one of Arsenal’s biggest winners without even kicking a ball against Sunderland, as his worth in the final third truly became apparent.
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