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Viktor Gyokeres was seen as the missing piece between Arsenal being runners-up and Premier League winners. A striker was what Mikel Arteta desperately needed, with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus often on the treatment table.
Gyokeres had scored for fun at Sporting Cup, scoring 39 goals in 33 Liga Portugal games last season. However, he has been unable to translate this to Premier League form. This campaign, he has scored just five goals in 19 games in English soccer's top flight.
Adapting to the Premier League was always going to be difficult for Gyokeres, and he was never going to be as prolific as he was with Sporting.
At Sporting, Gyokeres was used to playing a more direct role. He was the target man in an often counterattacking system. However, under Arteta, he is playing within himself in a deeper role.
Arteta needs to use Gyokeres in a different way
Arteta has his system and wants all of his players to contribute to build-up play, even Gyokeres. However, at 6 ft 2, Gyokeres is not a playmaker; he needs to be getting on the end of crosses and having the ball at his feet in the box.
Against Liverpool, Gyokeres had stats of 0.02 xG and 0.02 xA. This shows that under Arteta, he is now neither a striker nor a playmaker. This has led to the player cutting a frustrated image in the Arsenal team.
Arteta learnt most of his coaching traits as Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City. He may need to take another leaf out of Guardiola's book. Guardiola has Erling Haaland at his disposal, and his job is just to score goals.
Haaland does not get involved in build-up play as it is not his job nor where his talents lie. The Norwegian just finished off the chances his teammates provided for him. Gyokeres' role has been overcomplicated in Arteta's system, and it is time for a change.
Gyokeres' record this season is not good enough, and the Gunners need someone who can turn matches like the 0-0 draw with Liverpool last night into wins. If Arsenal are to win the Premier League this season, then they cannot afford too more slip-ups like this.
Just one goal against Liverpool would have seen the Gunners go eight points clear at the top of the division. Now they are only six points ahead of City, who are hot on their heels.