Arsenal seem to be clicking at just the right time.
After a January in which their European exploits dwarfed their Premier League performances, they have scored seven goals and conceded none in their last two league matches against Leeds United and Sunderland. Of those seven goals, three have been scored by Viktor Gyokeres, albeit in different circumstances.
The striker, who Arsenal signed for €63.5million ($86m) from Sporting CP last summer, scored as a starter in last weekend’s trip to Leeds. This time around, he was introduced from the bench to turn a one-goal lead into a 3-0 win over Sunderland and make it eight goal contributions in as many games in all competitions — his six goals being more than any other Premier League player since the turn of the year.
Gyokeres’ start to life in north London has not been straightforward. A marquee signing, he was underwhelming in the first half of the season, scoring five goals and just two from open play in 20 games (17 starts). With Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz injured, all the focus was on him, on and off the pitch.
Of Arsenal’s first nine Premier League games, Gyokeres played the full 90 minutes in seven. He then suffered a muscular injury on matchday 10, which provided an opportunity for Mikel Merino to start up front, but it has not been until recent weeks that manager Mikel Arteta has been able to use Havertz, Gyokeres and Jesus as a group.
Away to Leeds, it was Jesus who brought something different. At home to Sunderland, it was Gyokeres.
“He came on in moments when the game was a little bit more open,” Arteta told reporters post-match. “Today, he had more company in and around him as well. It depends on the opponent, it depends on the context.”
The context of this cameo being a more open game where Gyokeres could play off fellow attackers was almost tailor-made for him. The ‘openness’ of the game was similar to when he came on and scored away to Inter in the Champions League last month — almost a trial run for what he could do off the bench.
When Arteta speaks of ‘company’ in and around the 27-year-old, Havertz is likely the main example. The Germany international has made an impressive return to the side since coming back from injury. His ability to float into space unmarked was key to yet another goal and means he has now assisted Gyokeres twice in just over a week.
The same goes for Gabriel Martinelli, who once again came on to play off the right in the absence of Bukayo Saka, and found Gyokeres nicely after sharp attacking play.
Gyokeres now has others around him as attacking options (Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)
As for Gyokeres, Arteta will take encouragement from him being more alive to the opportunities around him.
“What really makes a difference is the consistency that he shows every single day to practise, train and to understand his team-mates better,” the Arsenal manager added.
“To speak up and demand the kind of movement, the kind of balls and deliveries that he wants as well. And then he needs to do what he’s done today as well, and really put it to work.”
Aside from the goals, Gyokeres took better care of the ball under pressure. With his first goal just six minutes after coming off the bench, the confidence that came seemed to settle him.
“That’s the magic word (confidence),” Arteta said. “When you feel confident, when you feel important, when you feel at your best, that’s when you can really take your game to the highest level. We all try, firstly the team-mates, but all the staff are really behind him in every moment to try to help him, to try to support him. He is delivering, and he’s in a really good moment now.”
Players feeling important even when they are not starting has been a theme of Arsenal’s season.
Last week, Noni Madueke was not initially meant to start, but was thrust into the line-up after Saka’s hip injury and delivered a goal and an assist to put Arsenal 2-0 up at half-time at Elland Road.
Gyokeres’ goals and Martinelli’s assist mean Arsenal now rank first in the Premier League for goal contributions by substitutions, with 16.
“He was ready straight away,” Arteta said of the striker’s impact. “When he got the line-up and he wasn’t in, everybody reacts in such a way because we experience every three days how important the finishers are. The impact they are having on the team, results and where we are, so I’m very happy.”
The timing of Gyokeres’ first goal was equally important as he added to Arsenal’s league-leading contributions off the bench.
The number of matches that Arsenal went into the final 15 minutes with just a one-goal lead became noticeable at the start of winter.
On December 30, they ranked first in the league for one-goal leads heading into the final 15 minutes (eight). Those situations often made for tense closing stages, like at home to Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers, who were still in the game until stoppage time.
Six league games into the New Year, that tally still stands at eight. They have drawn two and lost one of those matches, but have now increased their number of two-goal leads from six to nine, which ranks second in the Premier League. With Gyokeres’ first goal coming on 66 minutes, Arsenal and their supporters could be expressive.
In a season that has felt like hard work at times, this victory was more of a luxury — with Gyokeres more than playing his part.