From Hopes To Challenges: Understanding Viktor Gyökeres' Arsenal Scoring Problems.

Viktor Gyökeres’ move to Arsenal in 2025 was welcomed with sky-high hopes after his prolific form in Portugal, but his goal drought and scoring challenges have quickly become headline topics in North London. This comprehensive blog dissects why those initial hopes have run into obstacles, using tactical analysis, stats, and context around Arsenal’s form and style, while exploring how manager Mikel Arteta and the broader Gunners squad are addressing the issue.​

From Lisbon Euphoria to North London Reality

Viktor Gyökeres arrived as a £64 million marquee man, fresh from a stunning 97 goals in 102 appearances at Sporting Lisbon. His signing was seen as the missing cog for Arteta’s title-aspiring side. Arsenal needed a dynamic, clinical striker—someone to convert their creative promise into consistent firepower after just missing out in previous seasons.​

Initially, hope soared as Gyökeres netted three goals in his first four matches for Arsenal, which included an explosive brace against Leeds United in August. The buzz was palpable around the Emirates.​

The Scoring Drought: Facts and Numbers

But optimism turned quickly into anxiety. As September rolled on, Gyökeres endured a seven-match goal drought, spanning club and country, growing to nine without a goal at its height. In all competitions, Gyökeres managed just five goals in 12 appearances by early November—a return far from his Sporting standards.​

The numbers behind the drought are revealing:

• 0 goals in nine consecutive outings at one stage.
• Only three Premier League goals by mid-October.
• Fewer shots on target (7 in 10 games) than the sheer volume expected for such a big signing.​

Team and Tactical Context

1. Arsenal’s Creators: Not Pulling Enough Strings

While Gyökeres’ critics point to clumsy moments and missed chances, Arsenal’s creative stats tell their own story. As of mid-October, Arsenal ranked just eighth in the Premier League for open-play chances created—lagging well behind Liverpool, Manchester United, and even lower-table teams like Nottingham Forest.

• Only 53 open-play chances created; Liverpool, by comparison, made 71.
• Arsenal’s patient, possession-heavy approach (third-highest average possession at 58%) often leaves Gyökeres isolated, starved of the quick service on which he thrived at Sporting.
• Gyökeres excels during transitions, but Arsenal had not scored a single counter-attacking goal in the league up to that point.

2. The Aerial Myth

Many expected Gyökeres’ physical presence to add an aerial dimension, yet he’s not truly a specialist in the air—just about 6-7% of his career goals are headers.

3. The Expected Goals (xG) Angle

Gyökeres’ non-penalty expected goals per 90 minutes (npxG/90) was just 0.34, a world away from Erling Haaland’s 1.17. Several other Premier League strikers outranked him on this measure, highlighting an issue with shot quality and frequency rather than just finishing.

The Pressure and Psychological Toll

Every striker faces droughts, but for Gyökeres—lauded as Europe’s deadliest marksman—the scrutiny is fierce. He has reportedly felt pressure mounting, showing frustration with every missed chance and growing “edgy” as the run stretched.​

Arteta, teammates like Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka, and even club insiders have rallied with visible support, applauding his pressing, hold-up play, and positional discipline. The coaching staff have tried to ease the burden, reminding fans and player alike that his work off the ball remains crucial despite the lack of goals.​

Tactical Tweaks and Injuries

Arsenal’s forward setup has been further complicated by injuries—particularly to the versatile Kai Havertz. The German’s midfield dynamism and late runs often provided the unpredictability that stretched defenses; in his absence, Arsenal have looked for Gyökeres to be both a target man and a technical link, sometimes to the detriment of his output.​

Moreover, Gyökeres did not complete a full pre-season with Arsenal, missing crucial training sessions at Sporting ahead of his transfer—leaving him behind in adapting to new tactical demands.​

Beyond Goals: Hidden Contributions

When goals dry up, it’s easy to overlook other forward metrics. However, Gyökeres’ off-ball movement, pressing, and ability to occupy center-backs have been an asset for Arsenal’s system, creating space for others. In several tight wins, his selfless runs have allowed Saka, Martinelli, and Eze to impact the scoresheet.​

Mikel Arteta insists that a team’s system—its pressing triggers and positional discipline—relies on players who commit to more than just finishing. Gyökeres’ ability to draw defenders, hold up play, and launch pressing sequences fits Arsenal’s ethos, even as he tries to unlock his scoring again.​

Was Sporting a False Benchmark?

Some critics and analysts question whether expectations were unfair from the start. The Portuguese league, with its open attacking football, gave Gyökeres space and opportunities rarely afforded in the crowded, combative English top flight.

His remarkable Lisbon record included numerous goals against defensively weaker sides, while Arsenal encounter densely-packed defenses most weeks—often facing “low blocks” designed to stifle the supply to the centre-forward.​

Breaking the Drought: Atletico Madrid and Hope

Mid-October provided a turning point. Gyökeres finally ended his drought with a brace in a statement 4-0 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid. The relief was visible on the pitch, with Arteta and teammates celebrating what they described as just reward for the Swede’s persistence.​

• Arteta declared it a “start of a beautiful sequence,” signaling renewed faith that Arsenal’s adaptation, combined with Gyökeres’ work ethic, could yield long-term dividends.​

Gyökeres himself made a vow to supporters—there would be “a lot of goals” to come.​

What’s Next? Solutions and Long-Term Vision

Arsenal’s pathway out of this rut is multifaceted:

• Creative Boost: As Eberechi Eze finds his rhythm after joining, and with Saka returning from injury, Arsenal’s chance creation is expected to improve, offering Gyökeres better opportunities.
• Tactical Tweaks: Arteta may need to inject more speed and directness in phases, especially against compact opposition that denies space in the box.
• Patience and Psychology: Keeping the faith matters. Recent games reveal that the squad and staff are backing their striker—acknowledging the importance of confidence for any goal scorer.​
• Adapting Roles: Accepting that not every world-class finisher thrives the same way in every league, Arsenal may look to evolve how Gyökeres is used—perhaps employing him as a foil or in a partnership during tough stretches.

Will Gyökeres Fulfil the Promise?

The road ahead, as always in the Premier League, is fraught with both expectation and opportunity. Viktor Gyökeres, having now finally broken his duck, has the platform to justify both his price tag and his reputation.​

If Arsenal recalibrate the service lines and structure to his strengths, he could yet emerge as the 20-goal striker Arteta craves. But as the season’s grind continues, Gyökeres’ adaptation—and Arsenal’s response—will be a defining subplot in North London’s latest title charge.

~~~ By Dribble Diaries