Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres has been warned he faces a constant battle for his starting spot despite scoring a crucial goal in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
A Turning Point at Stamford Bridge?
The Sweden international, who joined the Gunners from Sporting Lisbon for £64million in the summer, ended a difficult run by tapping home in the 3-2 first-leg win at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night. While it was a simple finish, the emphatic celebration from his teammates highlighted the goal's potential significance for the forward's confidence.
Gyokeres arrived in North London with a formidable reputation, having netted 97 times in 102 games in Portugal. However, adapting to the Premier League has proven challenging. After a bright start with three goals in his first five games, he has managed just one goal from open play in his last 11 appearances, notably registering only six touches in a recent draw with Liverpool.
Schwarz Points to Pre-Season Disruption
Former Arsenal midfielder Stefan Schwarz, who also made the move from Lisbon to London when he joined from Benfica in 1994, believes mitigating circumstances have hampered Gyokeres. Speaking to Metro.co.uk in association with Betfree, Schwarz pointed to a missed pre-season and an early injury as key factors.
"He has had a tough start but I believe as well that when you miss a big part of pre-season it affects you for the whole season," Schwarz said. "You are always catching up and he picked up an injury too. I think next season for Gyokeres with a proper pre-season, he will be a different player."
Schwarz praised the striker's traditional centre-forward qualities but acknowledged the need to adapt to Mikel Arteta's specific system. "You can’t change Arsenal’s style, you have to adapt as a player. So that is taking time but he is a good old fashioned striker; strong, hardworking, he makes space for others and he is a good finisher."
Intense Competition for the Number Nine Role
The timing of Gyokeres's goal is critical, as Arteta's attacking options have been bolstered by returning stars. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are now back from injury, while midfielder Mikel Merino also offers a reliable goal threat when deployed further forward.
Schwarz believes this competition means Gyokeres will not be an automatic starter for the remainder of the campaign. "There is a lot of competition and it will depend on the opponent," he explained. "Different players will be more suited for different games... When you play for Arsenal, there are two or three players for each position and you cannot always play."
He suggested that the tactical flexibility offered by Havertz and Jesus means they could be "better suited" to certain fixtures, with Arteta rotating his resources. "Sometimes it is a tactical decision from Arteta, sometimes if you are injured or not fit but everyone is part of the jigsaw puzzle and will be involved," Schwarz added.
For now, Gyokeres will hope his Chelsea strike is the catalyst for a strong finish to the season, all while knowing that any dip in form will see one of Arsenal's other elite attackers ready to take his place.
