[The Athletic] How can Arsenal solve the Viktor Gyökeres problem?

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Another silent performance from Viktor Gyökeres has raised fresh questions, though Mikel Arteta predictably shielded his striker. Gyökeres, who joined for £64 million in the summer, is, at best, still adjusting. He's only notched 1 Premier League goal since September. In the win against Wolves, Gyökeres played 81 minutes and managed just 15 touches. Sub Gabriel Jesus got 9 touches in his short cameo. Whether it’s Gyökeres himself who needs to improve, or if teammates need to do more to utilize him fully, is the puzzle Arteta must solve. 'It’s a collaboration,' Arteta said on Saturday night. 'He was getting into so many good positions, but the ball wasn't coming into the box fast enough, sharply enough, or with the precision a number nine needs to score.' Arteta continues to back Gyökeres despite his low output. Gyökeres works diligently and makes good runs into space, but often the pass doesn't arrive. Arsenal has relied on a specific striker style for many seasons—Jesus and Kai Havertz both drop deep, move freely, and link up with teammates. Gyökeres is a more 'selfish' striker, relying on good service. It wasn't a coincidence that his best spell against Wolves came during the 25 minutes he played alongside Leandro Trossard. While Gabriel Martinelli tends to keep his head down and focus on dribbling, Trossard is a winger who elevates his teammates. Trossard played a perfect lobbed pass to Gyökeres, who held off a defender, took a powerful shot, but unfortunately missed the goal just wide. Gyökeres created the space, but the entire move started with Trossard choosing to actively look for the striker. Now that Jesus is fully back, there’s an argument that Arteta might start mixing up his winger/striker combinations. Jesus and Martinelli have a great connection, and Trossard seems the best resource to unlock Gyökeres. Whether it’s genuine belief or a public stance to protect Gyökeres, Arteta keeps stressing that the team needs to work harder to maximize the striker’s potential. Even Manchester City took time to adapt to playing with Erling Haaland, but they never stop trying to find him, even if it’s not always the best option.

Arsenal is structured to build up down Bukayo Saka’s flank rather than firing quick through balls centrally, and this approach naturally limits Viktor Gyökeres’ involvement in the game. Nevertheless, there’s no doubt that Gyökeres himself needs to show more. Particularly in the first half against Wolves, his hold-up play wasn't strong enough. Also, on several dangerous crosses that zipped across the goal, he seemed to stop running—these were opportunities a striker absolutely must finish. This season, Gyökeres’ Premier League goals have come against Burnley, Leeds, and Nottingham Forest, all currently in the bottom half of the table. In tight matches like the one against Wolves, played under the existing tension of a title race, Arsenal needed Gyökeres to step up a level. But he still hasn't scored since returning from his hamstring injury. Arteta stated: 'He was in great shape before the injury. At first, he needed a little time because of a different league, different demands. He had no preseason either. He’s gaining momentum now, but goals are ultimately the key to fully unleashing him.' He added: 'The sample size is still very small. So just leave him be, trust him to do what he does best, and support him from behind. Then things will definitely go in the right direction.' Analysis often notes how few touches Erling Haaland gets in a game, but his goalscoring ability fully offsets that low involvement. For Gyökeres to follow that path, more is required, not just from the striker himself, but from all his Arsenal teammates.