Afternoon all.
With the odd story doing the rounds about Barcelona being interested in Viktor Gyokeres, I thought to myself, what if it’s true? Why would a club as big as Barcelona be interested in an Arsenal player so many fans love to hate. A striker who scored the most goals in a season since Aubameyang in 2019/20.
Only Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago hit 20+ goals last season, the best of the rest managed mid to high teens. Benjamin Sesko managed 11. Both were last summer arrivals, unlike others who scored more than them. Other striker summer signings scored less by the way.
I suppose my thoughts are that a first season for any player from overseas can be difficult. Martin Zubimendi came in and hit the ground running but post Christmas, his game dropped off. Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze had their moments but neither truly performed at a high level consistently yet they both came from Premier League clubs. Cristhian Mosquera has done pretty well though and continued to do so on Sunday. It’s now their second season so one would expect to see improvement. Assuming all are still at the club when the transfer window closes.
Gyokeres scored 21 goals in all competitions last season which isn’t a bad tally at all, not considering he was feeding off scraps a lot of the time. If the service to him can be improved, I’m pretty sure he score 20+ Premier League goals alone. No one will convince me that Kai Havertz is a more prolific goal than Gyokeres. Our big German has scored 37 goals in 112 matches, Gykoeres has managed 21 goals in 56 games. Add in that Arsenal faced a lower than low block for much of last season, certainly more times than any other club had, perhaps his critics are being harsh.
But what if he does move to Barcelona or elsewhere this summer, unlikely as I think that is, what do Arsenal do in the transfer market? Start again with A.N. Other? Let’s be honest, Arsenal aren’t the most speedy when it comes to signing players. The club are even worse at selling players with Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson still occupying a place in the squad when we know none of them are going to play this coming season.
We know how good our players are by now and yes, I think Gyokeres is one of them but for me, one of the great things from this summer isn’t just the talent of Christos Tzolis or the impressive Myles Lewis-Skelly but the return to form of our captain. He’s either been injured or totally out of form for the last season or two but from his 30 minute cameo against Dortmund to his masterclass against Manchester City, it looks very much like he’s back to being at his best and that can only be great for everyone who loves The Arsenal.
Bukayo Saka is yet to make a proper return but I’m sure it won’t be long until he does. If his performance for England against France is anything to go by, he too could be back to his best this season. If we can win the league with both of these two being injured or not at their best, then how much better will we be with them fully fit and firing again?
Let’s not forget that Kai Havertz wasn’t available for much of last season, nor was Ben White and then latterly, we were without Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino. If this is the season players stay fit and available then it should be another good one.
Perhaps a more exciting one too in terms of the football we play because against Manchester City, we moved the ball around much quicker. We actually looked dangerous going forwards instead of boring and unimaginative as we tried to pass our way around a low block.
Well, it’s not long now until our 2026/27 campaign kicks off and I’m looking forward to it…
Catch up in the comments.
A lot going to depend on the referees interpretation . The one about the keeper worries me about how he gets injured . Take it to the extreme if a forward takes him out does the keeper’s team have to play with 10 men for a bit. Could be contencious especially at corners.
I don’t reckon any referee will have the courage to give a corner at Anfield if the Liverpool keeper goes over the allotted time?
One guess which club is penalised the most in the first three months before these rules are relaxed?
Good morning all.
New rules have been introduced by the Premier league for the new season. Players will be allowed ten seconds to leave the field when substituted, if they don’t get off the pitch in that time the substitute will have to remain on the touchline for one minute. There will be a five second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks, failure to comply will result in the throw-in going to the other side, for the goal kicks the opposition will get a corner.
If the match is stopped for a goalkeeper injury, the team in question will have to nominate an outfield player to immediately leave the pitch for one minute.
If these changes speed up the game I’m all for them. Particularly the the goal keeper injury tactical time-outs.
I commend these changes to the House.
Afternoon Rico and all,
I would start Gyokeres without thinking twice, personally I think at the start, our game plan suited him with all the back passes and not really attacking style of play, but this season I feel more confident that he will score as we now have a few players that like to attack the goal than play kick to kick, I don’t feel Havertz is a striker in the tight area right in front of goal, I would be quite annoyed if we sold him.
Lest we forgot, after a bad start, Gyokeres managed to score 14 league goals. He was a static training cone in 2025, clueless on the requirements of ArtetaBall. Suddenly, like he moved up 2 or3 gears, discovered mobility and his willingness to track back and keep moving all the time.
I will cut him some slack and expected his KPI at least 15 to 20 league goals this season.
Havertz is like always one injury away from another lengthy layoff, plus not as prolific in goal scoring department.
Gyokeres is more durable, rugged and a physical presence in the box, a battling ram, a different option that allows Arteta tactically flexibility against different team.
Keep Gyokeres until a marquee striker is available for us to buy.
We need continuity from last season to retain our title.
One more season and I hope youngsters like Annous, O’Neill, Joseph, et al are ready for senior team next season. Fingers crossed.
Arsenal chief: New signings need ‘to change the dial’Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick says the club want to sign players who “are going to change the dial”.
Asked about the club being linked with elite players, Garlick said:
“It’s players that are going to take Arsenal forward.
“In the past we’ve looked at players that maybe helped build out the squad or get us to a certain level, but now we’re competing right at the top level, and we do need to bring in players that are going to change the dial.
“That might be younger players that come into your squad and give them time to develop, and you’ve seen that in the last couple of years at Arsenal, and if we’re able to combine those players that are coming through the academy with some of the best players in the world then we’ve got every chance of maintaining that success and going beyond what we’ve already achieved.”
Evening Devil, thanks.
I prefer a 20+ goals striker as well as other players chipping in like they used to back in the days of Bobby, Freddie and Thierry. We need more goals from our midfielders and wingers imo.
Good evening Rico and all
Lovely post Rico. I enjoyed reading that. But I still dont want VK14 to go. Certainly not at 50M.
Potter, I feel that this year teams will not play low block against us. They played that last year no?? What did it profit them?? Nothing. And we still won the league no??? So what’s the point of playing low block if you cannot stop us. At least if you attack you might score a goal or two and aid your goal difference.
Personally I prefer having 5 or 6 players who score 10 goals plus each to having one striker who hits 20+ or 30+ goals a season. Mark that player and no one scores. With 5 or 6 players who get 10+ means one thing….you don’t know from where the next goal is coming from.
Agreed, as with many good strikers, it’s about the service. Against a low block, it’s difficult to create something from nothing I’d have thought.
The problem with Havertz as I see him and he is not in the same class but he is like Bergkamp to Henry . He is not a striker as such but a handy second striker . Gyokeres is not a ball player but he will score goals if he gets the ball at he right time . Havertz will score but not as much . The decision is one player that scores 20 plus with service or a few that get 10 each.
It was Stuart. I suppose we should be happy really that we have two, three if we count Merino, different types of strikers but as clunky as he might look, I think Gyok is the more ruthless and more determined.
Cheers for the post, Rico.
It was a real handbrake off performance against City, but they are not a park the bus team, allowing our boys the space to do their thing. I thought Kai was brilliant and I’d have him as the starting striker. He has a great touch, times his runs well, is good one on one and combines well with MO8 in the press.
I don’t find Gyo easy on the eye, but he may light the fire in his second season and he is robust, so, unless Berta has someone very special up his sleeve, I can’t see us selling him.