The stress is on for Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres. Following the Gunners’ 1-0 victory towards Manchester United, ahead Kai Havertz can be sidelined, presumably for a prolonged keep, with a knee damage, based on stories. The severity of the 26-year-old ahead’s damage is not recognized but, however with the Gunners exploring the switch marketplace for cowl, it suggests at the least the potential of a chronic absence. That cowl could not come within the type of a striker with the Gunners focusing on Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze, according to The Athletic. That will not solely put extra stress on Gyokeres, but in addition it might open the choice of Arsenal enjoying striker-less lineups in the event that they rotate till Havertz recovers.
Expectations have been already excessive for Gyokeres after becoming a member of this summer time from Sporting CP in a deal price over $75 million, however these preliminary expectations have been tempered by the truth that, with the Gunners enjoying in 4 competitions, they’d be rotating their attackers. Gyokeres was initially slated to be certainly one of a deep group of contributors.
However Gabriel Jesus remains to be recovering from his personal ACL damage that he picked up in January of this yr and has no timetable for return, and that leaves Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino because the closest issues to strikers in Mikel Arteta’s squad behind Gyokeres. That may not be an issue towards the likes of Burnley and the underside of the Premier League, however when the league section of the Champions League kicks off in September, they will want to have the ability to rotate. Even earlier than the damage, the Gunners have been in want of extra depth on the 9; now the focus will shine ever brighter on their new star.
In a technique, the present state of affairs is vindication for Arsenal’s switch technique. Arsenal have been broadly reported to be debating between Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko, who in the end moved from RB Leipzig to Manchester United. Sesko, nevertheless, is a youthful, rawer participant, extra of an thrilling long-term undertaking than a right away affect starter. Gyokeres, then again, is 27 with a confirmed observe report of scoring plenty of targets.
Whereas it took time for Gyokeres to show right into a high ahead, excelling at Coventry Metropolis earlier than getting a transfer to Sporting CP that pushed him into the dialog as one of many high forwards on the earth, that is manufacturing that would translate to Arsenal. The Gunners do not want Gyokeres to attain 40 targets in all competitions — though they would not complain if he did — as a result of with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, this assault is not a one-man present.
The place they want Gyokeres is within the Champions League and different competitions to get them over the road. In UCL play final season, Gyokeres scored six targets in eight matches for Sporting. Snug with phyiscality and capable of rating shortly, Gyokeres instantly impressed the Arsenal defenders. “It is scary to play towards him,” William Saliba mentioned about his new teammate. “If you face a striker who scores targets, it’s a must to be centered! However now he is in our group and he’ll rating for us, in order that’s good.”
Arsenal could have received the match 5-1 after they confronted Sporting final November within the Champions League, however Gyokeres did have possibilities which Saliba and Gabriel did nicely to maintain up with. That is an vital information level as a result of the defenders that Gyokeres will face now are nearer to the extent of Saliba than that of those he terrorized in Portugal.
Whereas Arsenal may hope Gyokeres steps up and performs, hope does not win titles, manufacturing does, and Gyokeres and Sesko weren’t the one doable choices the Gunners thought of. Alexander Isak was additionally, at the least, on Arsenal’s huge white board of potentialities, however fairly than pay what appears to love to be a king’s ransom. they determined Gyokeres was wager, despite the fact that he is a participant who’s unproven within the Premier League. Solely Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah have scored greater than Isak’s 44 targets over the previous two Premier League seasons, which is fairly good firm to be in. His anticipated targets tally of 40.89 can be third finest, whereas Isak can be comfy establishing teammates with eight assists throughout that interval. There is no cause to imagine that at a membership like Arsenal that this degree of manufacturing would not keep the identical if not enhance, contemplating the expertise round him versus being the man at Newcastle United.
Given their squad depth, it was affordable for Arsenal to wager Gyokeres would have the time he wants to regulate to life in England’s high flight, and Isak’s instantaneous Premier League expertise wasn’t well worth the worth. However that depth simply evaporated. After coming in second in three consecutive seasons, Arsenal want manufacturing now and Gyokeres’ adjustment interval simply shrank right down to zero.
What number of video games will Gyokeres have the ability to play?
Gyokeres scored 97 targets in 102 matches for Sporting, and whereas he could not have hit the again of the online throughout his Arsenal debut, his presence already makes a distinction. In a title-winning squad over the past 10 seasons, their high striker has scored 22.5 league targets, which is the road that Gyokeres might want to beat, however now. with the damage to Havertz, it additionally comes right down to how a lot relaxation he’ll have the ability to obtain.
Arsenal performed 58 matches in all competitions final marketing campaign, whereas throughout his time at Sporting, Gyokeres featured in 50 and 52 video games respectively. He is somebody who’s used to an elevated workload, but in addition, when he has been the principle man for his golf equipment within the final 4 seasons, the minutes will add up. If coming to the Premier League ends with Gyokeres lacking time alongside the absentees that Arsenal are already coping with, that is when the season will grow to be a catastrophe earlier than it begins. That is additionally why it is smart for the group to do their due diligence within the switch market to make sure that there’s correct cowl for all potentialities.
A blow for Havertz
After a tough begin to life at Arsenal, Havertz was far more productive within the final two seasons, scoring 22 Premier League targets and aiding 10 extra. He suffered a hamstring damage through the 2024-25 season that saved him out for 3 months on the shut of the season, however throughout his profession, he has been largely wholesome. Coming off of ending the season with an damage to starting the brand new marketing campaign with one is sort of the blow, particularly when Havertz is wanting to make sure that he stays in Germany’s squad for the 2026 World Cup going down in Mexico, Canada, and the USA.
Choices for changing Havertz
It has been fairly a summer time for the Gunners, forking out over $260 million on transfers with minimal outgoing gamers, as solely Nuno Tavares and Marquinhos introduced in revenue from gross sales. That might hold them from making a last-second, unlikely swoop for Isak, though it does not damage to ask, as his state of affairs with Newcastle United is changing into tougher to restore by the day. Like Gyokeres, Isak can be comfy working from the left wing, so the duo might coexist even when it made a participant like Gabriel Martinelli surplus to necessities. Extra sensible choices might be wanting so as to add Nicolas Jackson to proceed a powerful Chelsea to Arsenal pipeline that already introduced Noni Madueke to the membership this summer time.
Internally, Trossard can play all throughout an attacking band or as an attacking midfielder, whereas Merino’s stand-ins as a striker have been admirable. In 12 video games as a middle ahead, Merino scored six targets, aiding three extra, in comparison with scoring 3 times and aiding two targets from midfield. This included two targets within the Champions League and three assists. Scoring on Actual Madrid within the Champions League quarterfinals, Merino confirmed that he was up for the duty in main the road, however Arsenal additionally will not need to push their luck and count on an excessive amount of from a participant who’s primarily a midfielder. It is a positive stability for Arteta in changing Havertz, but when Gyokeres can hit the bottom operating, it’s going to reduce how a lot of a blow is felt from his newest damage.
If Arsenal can add Eze, not solely will it enhance lineups the place a midfielder must play as a middle ahead, however it might additionally add one other inventive presence alongside Saka and Odegaard. When seeking to break down groups that sit again, the extra creativity that Arsenal can have, the higher, as a result of a group will not have the ability to key in on particular gamers. It is nonetheless a threat for the Gunners, but when Gyokeres scores the targets that he’s anticipated to, it will likely be a worthwhile one.
