Viktor Gyokeres finally ended a nine-game goal drought for club and country by scoring twice in Arsenal’s 4-0 Champions League triumph against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Yet manager Mikel Arteta was quick to stress that the Swedish striker offers far more than just goals.
Since joining the Gunners this summer, Gyokeres has provided Arsenal with a central attacking focal point they often lacked last season. Arteta explained that his signing has made the team “much more unpredictable,” highlighting the striker’s athleticism, work-rate, and physical presence as standout attributes.
“He’s so physical, and the way he presses the ball and holds it—that’s phenomenal,” Arteta said. “He makes us a much better team.”
Data supports the manager’s praise. Gyokeres leads the Premier League in applying high pressure in the final third, getting within two meters of opponents on 199 occasions. He also tops the charts for high-pressure actions inside the opposition penalty area, demonstrating his defensive contribution as much as his attacking threat.
Gyokeres’ influence extends beyond pressing. His intelligent off-the-ball movement stretches defences, creating space for Arsenal’s creative players like Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, and Martin Zubimendi. He has made more runs into the opposition penalty area than any other Premier League player this season and ranks third for runs in behind opposition defensive lines, constantly providing a threatening outlet.
Arsenal’s tactical setup this season has been designed to maximize Gyokeres’ strengths. The team is playing quicker, more direct football to exploit his size, strength, and ability to run between centre-backs. Unlike versatile forwards Kai Havertz or Gabriel Jesus, Gyokeres is a natural number nine, consistently occupying central attacking positions. This has allowed him to register the most touches in the opposition box among Arsenal players in both the Premier League and Champions League this season.
His contribution is not limited to positioning and goal threat. Gyokeres also leads the team in fouls won and possession regained in the final third, demonstrating a willingness to perform the “dirty work” that often goes unnoticed. Such effort enhances Arsenal’s overall play, allowing creative talents to flourish around him.
While expectations naturally focus on his scoring, it would be unrealistic to expect the prolific rate Gyokeres achieved in Portugal, where he netted 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting. Nonetheless, his current tally of four goals in 11 starts indicates that he can still reach double figures in the Premier League if he maintains form, with a target of 20 goals across all competitions this season achievable.
Beyond statistics, Gyokeres’ presence has boosted team morale and cohesion. His physicality and relentless running have opened spaces for teammates, encouraging Arsenal’s attacking players to exploit his movements. Following his brace against Atletico Madrid, his teammates were quick to celebrate his performance, highlighting his value to the squad beyond raw numbers.
Arteta and Arsenal fans alike appreciate that while Gyokeres may not always deliver spectacular finishes, his work ethic and tactical intelligence make him a vital component of the team’s system. The striker’s combination of size, power, and pressing ability enables Arsenal to play a more dynamic and unpredictable style, one that keeps opposition defenders under constant pressure.
In short, Gyokeres represents more than just a goal-scoring option. He is a complete forward who contributes to Arsenal’s attack in multiple ways, from pressing and creating space to tactical positioning and defensive work. As the season progresses, his goals may come more frequently, but his influence on the team’s overall performance is already evident.
For Arsenal, Gyokeres has become a player who can change games both with and without the ball, proving that his signing was about more than just finishing—it was about making the team stronger, smarter, and more dangerous.
