Viktor Gyökeres has divided opinion since arriving, but one thing is undeniable: availability matters. While Kai Havertz has missed the vast majority of the campaign and Gabriel Jesus has struggled to hit top form, Gyökeres has been there week after week. That consistency alone makes him crucial for Arsenal’s run-in – but as recent performances have shown, it’s not just about playing him, it’s about using him correctly.
His numbers tell a solid story: 21 goals in all competitions, including 14 in the Premier League. Hardly the return of a “transfer flop.” Yet the eye test has often been mixed, largely because the environment around him hasn’t always played to his strengths. Against Fulham, that changed, and it offered a clear blueprint for how Mikel Arteta can get the best out of his striker.
Too often this season, Arsenal have lined up with a front three lacking control. Combinations involving Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke alongside Gyökeres have struggled to retain possession or build sustained pressure. Without that platform, Gyökeres becomes isolated, forced into a role that doesn’t suit him, receiving the ball with his back to goal against physical centre-backs.
Fulham was different. With Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka flanking him, Arsenal suddenly had technical security and composure in wide areas. Both players prefer the ball to feet, allowing the team to progress play cleanly and, crucially, push higher up the pitch. That created the perfect conditions for Gyökeres to do what he does best – attack space.
Instead of acting as a static focal point, he became an outlet, making aggressive runs into the channels. One such movement led directly to Saka’s goal, with Gyökeres providing the assist. It was no coincidence. He nearly replicated the same action against Atlético Madrid, only for Martin Odegaard to squander the chance the Swede created.
This is where the nuance lies. Gyökeres isn’t a traditional hold-up striker. Asking him to consistently receive with his back to goal plays into defenders’ hands. His strengths are in timing, movement, and attacking instinct. When he does receive centrally, he needs close support, a true connector in the number 10 space. Someone like Eberechi Eze naturally fits that mould, arguably more so than Ødegaard in this specific dynamic.
Against Fulham, Gyökeres scored twice from open play and could easily have had more. Beyond the goals, the key difference was volume, he was involved, getting shots away, constantly threatening. That hasn’t always been the case this season.
For the final stretch, the formula feels clear. Keep Saka on the right if fit. On the left, prioritise Trossard — or potentially Eze — for technical security. Centrally, ensure there’s a player who can operate close to Gyökeres and link play. Use Martinelli and Madueke as impact options rather than starters in this setup.
If Arsenal replicate that structure, they won’t just get more out of Gyökeres — they’ll become a far more dangerous attacking unit when it matters most.