Arteta has a “Bergkamp kind of player” who can end Gyokeres’ Arsenal career
A year ago, Arsenal’s need for a new striker was exacerbated by injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
A year on, the two forwards are now back in contention to start games for the Gunners but arguably, they still need a striker.
Jesus did score his first goal back from a horrific ACL injury on Tuesday night, netting the fourth in their win over Aston Villa, but Viktor Gyokeres continues to struggle.
He may have netted from the spot in the 1-0 win over Everton prior to Christmas but he is now without a non-penalty goal since 1st November when he found the net from a header against Burnley.
It’s safe to say his performances are becoming all the more concerning.
How Gyokeres fared against Aston Villa
On paper, this was a game that suited Gyokeres. For most of his Arsenal career, the Swede has had to play against deep blocks.
That hardly suits his swashbuckling and quick style of play. He doesn’t get any room whatsoever. Yet, Villa, who play with a higher line and come at their opponents, looked like a good match.
Gyokeres did manage to have three shots, notably placing a header wide in the first half, but he continues to float through games pretty anonymously.
He managed just 16 touches of the ball against the Villans, producing only three accurate passes and winning one of his seven duels. While it was an improved performance on what we’ve seen in recent weeks, certainly as far as generating shots is concerned, it was another game in which he failed to find the net.
Gyokeres vs Aston Villa
Minutes played
77
Touches
16
Accurate passes
3/6 (60%)
Shots
3
Shots on target
0
Big chances missed
1
Possession lost
6x
Key passes
0
Ground duels won
1/6
Aerial duels won
0/1
Stats via Sofascore.
The fact of the matter is that Arsenal paid Sporting a lot of money for Gyokers to score goals. He is not doing that with enough regularity.
It was thought when the former Coventry City man arrived that he would be the player to fire Arsenal to the title. He may still do that but the early signs are damning. It said it all that Jesus, who had been on the pitch for a matter of moments, instantly found the net.
He certainly looks like a better option at the moment and it won’t be too long, surely, before Havertz leapfrogs the summer arrival in the pecking order.
Why Kai Havertz is still the main man
It’s funny how quickly things change in football, isn’t it? As we entered 2024, the debate was rife about Havertz.
Like Gyokeres, he was being branded as a flop. Why on earth did the Gunners pay £65m to sign him from Chelsea? Well, as 2024 played out, it quickly became apparent.
Initially signed as a central midfielder, it was as a centre-forward where he wove his way into the hearts of supporters inside the Emirates Stadium. His Arsenal journey is eerily similar to that of Mikel Merino.
As a striker, the big German has been sublime. In 2023/24, he netted just six times in 33 appearances as a midfielder but when leading the line, he scored eight and assisted eight in 18 outings. Nine of his 14 goals that campaign came in February and beyond.
On that evidence, there is hope for Gyokeres yet. However, in Havertz, they have someone who not only suits the system but, crucially, makes Arsenal tick. As we approach a busy stage of the term, his return from injury is timely.
This side are not used to having a striker who runs in behind and as much as they need to adapt better to Gyokeres’ style of play, it speaks volumes that some of Arsenal’s best performances this season have come with a similar player to Havertz in Merino leading the line.
The Spaniard was selected as the number 9 in the enthralling wins over Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur within a few days of each other.
While the Germany international isn’t yet ready to start games, his reemergence on the bench against Villa on Tuesday night was a very welcome sight. His array of qualities are going to be huge for Arteta and Co throughout the second half of this season.
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A summary from England boss Thomas Tuchel, who managed him at Chelsea, tells us a lot.
“I see a bit of Dennis Bergkamp, Robin Van Persie, [Dimitar] Berbatov kind of player. He can play in the half position because he has good runs, but also feels free from the nine and creates overload to one side. When I watched him at Leverkusen, I didn’t know that I would coach him, when I watched him at Paris [Saint-Germain], they made him play as a nine which was very interesting.”
He’s not the only one to make that sort of comparison. Former Arsenal man Paul Merson said at one stage that he was a “Bergkamp kind of player.”
He may not possess the same technical elegance as the great Dutchman but you can see where Tuchel and Merson are coming from. Like Bergkamp, he’s a selfless figure, someone capable of not just scoring but bringing others into play.
It will take a while for Havertz to get up to speed but if he can do it swiftly, it could be the end for Gyokeres in an Arsenal shirt.