Arsenal's significant summer investment in striker Viktor Gyokeres remains under intense scrutiny, with two of England's greatest ever goalscorers pinpointing where the Swede must improve to become the Gunners' answer to Erling Haaland.
Shearer identifies the missing link
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Alan Shearer suggested the adaptation process between player and club is incomplete. The former England captain believes Arsenal and Gyokeres are still learning how to utilise each other effectively. "I did a piece early on to say Arsenal have to get used to him and he has to get used to them," Shearer stated, adding pointedly, "that hasn't quite happened yet."
Shearer acknowledged the tactical nuance of Arsenal's attack, where Bukayo Saka's ability to go both ways on the right complicates service for a central striker. However, he emphasised this should not deter Gyokeres from making speculative runs. "You cannot stop running because someone is checking back," Shearer advised, stressing the need for relentless movement even if the pass doesn't arrive.
Lineker's Haaland comparison
Gary Lineker offered a more technical critique, comparing Gyokeres' movement unfavourably to prolific scorers like Haaland, Harry Kane, and Robert Lewandowski. Lineker observed that Gyokeres often waits to see where the ball is going before attacking space, a reactive approach typical of defenders.
"As a striker you've got to gamble on where you think the ball might go," Lineker explained. He cited Dominic Calvert-Lewin's recent goal for Leeds as a "perfect example" of the proactive, anticipatory movement he wants to see more often from the Arsenal man. "The players that score big numbers will do that," Lineker concluded, suggesting it is a skill that can be learned through "the common sense of probability."
The context of Gyokeres' start
The analysis comes amid a mixed start for the £64 million signing from Sporting Lisbon. Having picked up an injury last weekend, his tally of seven goals in 20 games across all competitions—with just five in 15 Premier League outings—has been a source of frustration. This return pales next to his prolific form in Portugal, leading to questions over whether he can be the decisive figure Arsenal hoped for when they chose him over other targets like Nick Woltemade and Hugo Ekitike.
The broader narrative, as highlighted by Shearer, is whether Mikel Arteta's system, which often focuses chance creation on wide forwards and channels, has been adequately adapted to suit a traditional number nine like Gyokeres. For now, the consensus from two legends of the game is clear: the full integration of Viktor Gyokeres into the Arsenal machine is a work in progress, and the onus is on both the player and his coaches to accelerate it.
