Viktor, an easy target…

Morning all.

Arsenal’s shot stats since mid November.

• Everton – 13 shots, 2 on target. (Penalty)
• Wolves – 16 shots, 2 on target. (2 OG)
• Villa – 15 shots, 9 on target. (scored 1)
• Brentford – 15 shots, 7 on target. (Scored 2)
• Chelsea – 8 shots, 4 on target. (Scored 1)

Before you say it, I know. Shots and real goal scoring opportunities aren’t often the same thing. But, the reality is, one has to go back to November when we played Totts to find a comprehensive and convincing performance and win. 17 shots, 8 on target that day which is not miles more than the fixtures listed above but the difference that day, we took our chances and Ebe Eze was outstanding.

We score against European clubs, 17 in 6 games to be precise including 3 against Bayern Munich and we don’t concede many either but when it comes to facing Premier League opposition, something is not quite clicking. At least we’re not taking our chances.

We leak goals, the defence takes a beating so when we don’t score, why shouldn’t our attacking players take some of the heat? After all, they are the ones who are meant to be scoring goals which win games.

I read somewhere, or it might have been one of the Sky Sports pundits, the suggestion that Arteta desperately needs Havertz back to add firepower to our front line. Well, considering he’s never been a great scorer of goals, I don’t see him saving the day any more than Jesus might. The best thing Arsenal as a group can do is feed the guy who with the right service will get us goals. I firmly believe that player is Gyokeres just as believe that the deeper we go into the season, the more his value will be proved. No pre season, a squad which is not used to playing with an out and out striker, it was always likely to be a slow start for our Swede. Just look at Isak who has hardly settled into the Liverpool team yet he’s been playing in the Premier League for a few years. As said before, no striker signed by Premier League clubs from overseas has set the footballing world alight. Yet.

Gyokeres is an easy target because he plays for Arsenal. He’s an easy target because of his transfer fee which is hardly his own fault. Of course I’d much rather he was scoring goals for fun but he not the first and he won’t be the last player to move to a big club and start slowly. He’s one of our own so of course I want him to be a success, every Arsenal fan should.

It wasn’t that long ago, Lacazette was struggling to score goals yet at his previous clubs he’d found it easy. I think half the problem is we were/are hoping for another Henry, Wrighty, Giroud even, although he had his fair share of critics. Gyokeres is going nowhere any time soon in my opinion so I’d rather live with hope he’ll come good, the players around him will come good for him too than to be overly critical of him.

If you/I are frustrated right now, imagine how he feels. He’s not the only player not scoring goals right now is he?

Catch up in the comments.