Arsenal is having a strong season, currently leading the Premier League by six points over Manchester City. They have reached the Carabao Cup final, set to face Manchester City, and will also compete against Wigan Athletic in the fourth round of the FA Cup on February 15. Under Mikel Arteta’s management, the team won all eight matches in the Champions League group stage, making them favorites in that tournament. One notable summer signing is Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, who arrived with a reputation for scoring goals. His performance has been mixed, and Arsenal legend Paul Merson has commented on Gyokeres’ form, suggesting that his teammates need to have more trust in him.
Viktor Gyokeres’ First Season at Arsenal
Paul Merson Says ‘I Hope They Trust Him a Lot More’
Gyokeres transferred from Portugal, where he had an impressive run in the Primeira Liga. Since his £64 million move to the Premier League, his performance has been inconsistent, with 11 goals in 31 appearances across all competitions to date.
In Portugal, his goal-scoring ability with both feet and his variety of techniques stood out. He displayed high energy, often retrieving the ball in wide areas before cutting in to score. However, this has been less frequent since his move to North London.
His capacity to run behind defenders or drop back makes him a versatile option, but he seems to lack full connection with his Arsenal teammates at this stage.
Merson addresses Gyokeres form
Regarding Gyokeres’ performance, Merson remarked:
“He did decent at Leeds last week, held the line well, though he missed a chance after taking too long. That was his best game I’ve seen, with the other standout being Burnley away. No disrespect to Leeds and Burnley, but one is fifth-bottom and the other is second-bottom. He needs more than that.”
“He makes good runs down the channel. Sometimes just play it to him; he might win a throw-in, helping build his confidence.
“He only touched the ball once in the first 25 minutes against Chelsea. I’m 57 and I’m touching the ball more than once.”
“I observed a lot of Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea – he wasn’t looking for the ball. The ball would go left while he drifted right, not looking to participate. This player does come forward, but he needs to be involved more. Give him the ball and provide a little confidence.
If players could bottle up their confidence, they would. With confidence, the game changes. If he’s not getting the ball, with the importance of stats today, he needs touches to build that trust.”
“He’s the top scorer, but just one ahead of own goals. I hope he thrives. He works hard and doesn’t give up, but I wish his teammates would trust him more.”