Why Gyokeres offers more than just goals to Arsenal

In Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, Viktor Gyokeres put an end to a nine-game goalless run for the club and nation, scoring twice. Manager Mikel Arteta was quick to applaud his all-round performance.

Arteta cites his athleticism and work-rate as distinguishing qualities as the 27-year-old makes the Gunners “a much better team,” blaming his signing as making them “much more unpredictable,” and citing his ability to “make them” as stand-out traits.

After winning the Champions League, the Spaniard praised him for being so physically fit and holding the ball.

The data supports Arteta’s assertion that Gyokeres offers more than just goals, especially when winning the ball back in advanced positions.

Gyokeres tops the Premier League in terms of using “high pressure” in the final third, which Opta defines as being within 2 meters of an opponent, recording 199 such actions.

Gyokeres keeps making wise, probing runs to stretch and strengthen his defenses when Arsenal are in possession.

This season, the Swede has made more off-the-ball runs into the penalty area than any other Premier League player.

Arsenal’s focus has increased as a result of Gyokeres’ signing this summer, especially in the second half of the campaign, when injuries forced them to deal with without Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Havertz can provide an aerial threat in the box, but the versatile German is not just a pure number nine, which is a claim made of Jesus, who has frequently played on the wing since he first arrived in England.

Gyokeres, on the other hand, consistently leads the opposition box and has played more games than any other Gunners player this year.

Gyokeres will undoubtedly be judged on his goals as a centre-forward, but it is unrealistic to expect him to score at the impressive level he did in Portugal, where he scored 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting.

He has four goals in 11 starts for Arsenal, and it should be possible to finish 2025-26 with at least 20 goals if he can maintain or even increase that score.

Ever since Gyokeres arrived at the club, fans have been anticipating seeing the striker score two goals in a sizable match.

One of the reasons Arsenal selected Gyokeres was because he would make room for the attacking players behind him, including Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Eze, and Odegaard.

This season, Arsenal have altered their play to move the ball forward more quickly, and this in part because Gyokeres’ size and range of running speed allow the team to utilize his size and power to its fullest.

Gyokeres had not scored in seven games for Arsenal before his goals last night, and the forward was occasionally glaringly frustrated.

Gyokeres has received praise from Mikel Arteta whenever the chance arises, and his teammates have expressed their gratitude for his efforts.