Why Gyokeres offers more than just goals to Arsenal

Viktor Gyokeres ended a goalless run of nine games for club and country by scoring twice in Arsenal's 4-0 win against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday but afterwards manager Mikel Arteta was quick to praise his all-round contribution.

Arteta believes the 27-year-old makes the Gunners "a much better team", explaining his signing has made them "much more unpredictable", pinpointing his athleticism and work-rate as stand-out attributes.

"He's so physical and the way he presses the ball, and holds the ball, that's phenomenal," the Spaniard said after the victory in the Champions League.

Arteta's view that Gyokeres offers more than just goals is supported by the data, particularly when it comes to winning the ball back in advanced positions.

Gyokeres ranks top in the Premier League for applying 'high pressure' in the final third (defined by Opta as getting within 2m of an opponent), recording 199 such actions.

He likewise leads the way in high pressures applied in the opposition penalty area.

That hard-running style also extends to when Arsenal are in possession, with Gyokeres repeatedly making intelligent, probing runs to stretch and stress defences.

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

He also ranks third for off-the-ball runs directed in behind opposition defensive lines, regularly offering a threatening outlet for Arsenal's creative players such as Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi.

Gyokeres' signing this summer has given Arsenal a focal point they often lacked last season, particularly during the second half of the campaign, when they were forced to cope without Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus because of injuries.

While Havertz can provide an aerial threat in the box, the versatile German is not a pure number nine, a claim that can also be made about Jesus, who has frequently played on the wing since arriving in England.

Gyokeres, on the other hand, is consistently a central spearhead, and has had more touches in the opposition box than any Gunners player in the Premier League and Champions League this season.

That is perhaps to be expected for a striker, but he also leads his team for fouls won and possession regained in the final third, evidence of a player more than willing to do the dirty work.

As a centre-forward, Gyokeres will obviously be judged on his goals but it is unrealistic to expect him to score at the remarkable level he did in Portugal, where he netted 97 times in 102 games for Sporting.

He has four goals in 11 Arsenal starts and if he can maintain, or even improve that scoring rate, finishing 2025-26 with at least 20 goals should be achievable.

That kind of haul, when combined with his all-round contribution, would represent a successful first season in London.

The sight of Gyokeres scoring two goals in a big game is one all Arsenal fans have been waiting for since the striker arrived at the club.

When Arsenal signed Gyokeres, one of the reasons for bringing him in was that his presence would open up space for the attacking players Arsenal have behind him in Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Eze and Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal have changed their style of play this season to get the ball forward quicker and this in part is also so the team can get the best out of Gyokeres using his size and power to run between centre backs.

Before his goals last night, Gyokeres had not scored for seven games in all competitions for Arsenal and the forward looked visibly frustrated at times.

Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on Gyokeres whenever the opportunity has presented itself and his team-mates have spoken about how they appreciate his efforts.

Gyokeres may not be easy on the eye at times but the sight of his team-mates pushing him forwards to take the adulation of the crowd shows they are behind the striker to deliver when it matters.