Viktor Gyokeres is starting to find his feet in Arsenal, giving a much-needed burst of energy to the team as they chase success in four competitions this season. The Swedish international had a few ups and downs at the beginning after leaving Sporting CP, but the latest displays indicate that the striker is getting back the sharpness that helped him score galore in Portugal.
From the first match of the year, Gyokeres has scored 6 goals in all competitions, which is more than any other Premier League player within this time frame, and his double against Sunderland took his total to 6 goals in 8 games. This is the first time this season that he has netted in back-to-back league outings, which shows that the striker is regaining his confidence to score.
His development has been parallel with Kai Havertz’s comeback from injury. As Mikel Arteta has been playing the German further back in the midfield, the duo have started to build a strong relationship and have been the scorers in the recent games against Kairat and Sunderland. Their cohesion has brought another facet to Arsenal’s attack during a heavy fixture schedule.
Even though six of Gyokeres’ eight Premier League goals have been against newly-promoted teams, his involvement is still important as Arsenal come up against very defensively tight sides. Away from scoring, his physicality and running the extra mile have brought the team a better balance, which can be seen from a higher winning ratio and fewer goals conceded when he starts.
Arteta has admired the forward’s mentality and dedication, pointing out that his ability to withstand pressure is one of his biggest strengths. With the season approaching the climax and Arteta’s men looking ready to break their trophy drought while carrying on the push in all competitions, a fit-again Gyokeres is going to be an invaluable asset for them.
