Viktor Gyokeres got a taste for scoring in Arsenal’s 5-0 win against Leeds United, and his brace came at the perfect time.
Gyokeres was impressive against Leeds, proving his doubters wrong after the striker collected harsh criticism on the opening day.
The 27-year-old has passed the Premier League test in his opening two games, but the real challenge comes next.
Arsenal face Liverpool at Anfield in a blockbuster on matchday three, a clash that Mikel Arteta will be desperate to emerge victorious from.
Alan Shearer scolds Liverpool’s defence
Arsenal’s record at Anfield is horrendous, but there might not be a better time to play Liverpool than next.
Liverpool aren’t up to speed yet in the Premier League, with their new additions still adapting, which has impacted the balance of Arne Slot’s favoured XI.
Still, the Reds have managed to maintain an unbeaten start to the season, but that hasn’t deterred Alan Shearer from airing his concerns.
“Defensively, they are all over the place,” Shearer said on The Rest Is Football podcast.
The pundit went on to shed light on where Liverpool were particularly poor, something Arsenal must take note of.
“Kerkez had another really poor game. Salah didn’t look his normal self; they couldn’t get Wirtz into the game.
“I know they’ve got great mentality, but there are also plenty of negatives, how they were dominated by ten-man Newcastle in the second half.
“The way they were beaten for Bruno’s goal, Kerkez was far too weak at that far post. They’ve got a lot to work on.”
Despite the talent Liverpool have in attack, the Reds are struggling quite significantly at the back, an early shakiness that Arsenal must build a game plan around to exploit.
Viktor Gyokeres will be excited for Liverpool test
Unlike previous trips to Anfield, Arsenal now have a reliable presence leading the line.
Gyokeres could be absolutely key to Arsenal beating Slot’s defensively-fragile Liverpool, but not necessarily in the most obvious way.
Being an incredibly strong figure to have in the centre-forward role, it’s almost certain that the Swede will be Virgil van Dijk’s focus, but such could actually be beneficial to Arsenal.
In the instance that the Dutchman glues himself to Gyokeres, the 27-year-old could use the anticipated close marking to his advantage, being able to shield the ball and play it off to someone close to him.
With someone like Eberechi Eze also now in the squad, a keen runner and deadly finisher, Gyokeres could pin himself to Van Dijk to draw his attacking teammates up to expose Liverpool’s lesser-performing defenders.
Scoring goals might not be the most efficient way that the £64m signing could help Arsenal at Anfield, with a lot to be explored by having a forward playing close to him at a time when Liverpool are lacking at the back.
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