Viktor Gyokeres appears to be the striker of choice for Arsenal, as the side have made a push to sign the Swedish international this summer.
The Gunners have been missing a clinical centre-forward for some time, with Mikel Arteta failing to land the option he needs over recent windows.
Andrea Berta is finally set to get the job done, as Arsenal close in on signing Gyokeres from Sporting CP.
There have been some doubts about which option the north London club would go for in the market, given the lack of clear choices out there.
Viktor Gyokeres has a goal-scoring pedigree, though questions have arisen about how well that will translate to the Premier League.
The striker has a particular theme when it comes to his scoring, which has been seen as something of a problem.
Viktor Gyokeres’s record against the bottom sides has been a concern before Arsenal transfer
There is a concern relating to Gyokeres before his transfer to Arsenal, which relates more to his scoring capabilities against tough opposition.
The striker scored 39 league goals in Portugal last season in just 33 appearances, showing his clinical edge when it mattered.
Gyokeres scored plenty of penalties in those games, though, with just 27 of his 39 goals not coming from the penalty spot.
While they all count, penalty situations aren’t easy to replicate, but that isn’t the only concern that may be had.
Of his 27 open-play goals scored last season in the league, only one of those came against the rest of the top four – scoring against Braga.
In all, 14 of his 27 goals came against teams in the bottom four of the division, which is just over half of his goals.
It certainly suggests that Gyokeres prefers to play and score against those weaker sides, which may make it tough to translate those goals into the Premier League.
However, when taking into account the actual weakness Arsenal have had in recent seasons, it could be a problem that is actually a positive thing.
Arsenal need a striker who can score against the lower clubs
Arsenal have a good record against the “big six” in recent years, finding a way to keep the game tight before striking when it really matters.
Their head-to-head record in those matches has been enough to win Premier League titles, but their real issues come elsewhere.
The Gunners failed to win far too many games last season, often held to a frustrating draw against the teams towards the middle and lower ends of the table.
The lack of a clinical edge and a creative spark cost them dearly, but it’s something that Gyokeres can clearly provide against those weaker sides.
His physical edge and ability to get a shot off quickly make him a threat to the opposition, and it could make him a valuable option.
If Arsenal needed that clinical striker to turn draws into wins, then Gyokeres may be the clear favourite to do just that.
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