Tactical reasons behind Viktor Gyökeres' struggling at Arsenal

January 03, 2026 • 0 • min read

Table of Contents

Tactical reasons behind Viktor Gyökeres' struggling at Arsenal

When Viktor Gyökeres joined Arsenal from Sporting CP last summer, expectations were understandably huge.

He arrived as Europe's most prolific goalscorer, having struck an astonishing 54 goals in 52 games across all competitions in 2024/25.

But halfway through his first Premier League season, the Swedish striker has managed just five league goals in 16 appearances, two of which came from the penalty spot.

The stark drop-off has prompted an unavoidable question: why hasn't Gyökeres been able to replicate his Sporting form at Arsenal?

The answer lies in a mix of tactical differences, league context, and individual adaptation.

Sporting vs Arsenal: A Systemic Shock

At Sporting, Gyökeres was the undisputed focal point of the attack.

He operated as a lone striker in a side that, despite dominating possession, often transitioned quickly after regaining the ball.

Rather than slow, methodical build-up play, Sporting regularly looked to find Gyökeres early, hitting direct passes into space for him to attack.

Gyökeres thrives when:

Running off the shoulder of defenders
Attacking space from wider right-side channels
Taking multiple touches before shooting
Striking the ball with power, particularly with his right foot

He is not a classic back-to-goal striker, nor is intricate link play his standout attribute.

Sporting's system gave him time, space and momentum - all key ingredients in his goalscoring explosion.

Arsenal's Style Works Against Him

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal play a very different brand of football.

They dominate territory, circulate possession patiently and face deep, compact defensive blocks almost every week.

Premier League defences recover faster, defend narrower and allow far less space in behind.

As a result, Gyökeres often finds himself:

Receiving the ball in crowded penalty areas
Forced to play with minimal separation from defenders
Unable to build momentum before shooting

This represents a complete contrast to the environments in which he thrived in Portugal.

Whilst Arsenal have actually played more through-balls than any Premier League side this season, those passes are often quickly smothered by athletic defenders who recover before Gyökeres can get a clean attempt away.

The Shot Numbers Tell the Story

The statistical drop-off is stark.

Shots per 90 minutes: 1.98 (45th among Premier League forwards)
One-touch shots per 90: 0.76
Erling Haaland (comparison): 1.85 one-touch shots per 90

Gyökeres simply isn't getting enough chances in the box, and when he does, he is often arriving a fraction late.

Missed opportunities against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa highlighted a recurring issue: he is not consistently in the right place at the right time.

Tracking data shows he receives passes with less space than any other Premier League player this season - just 3.14 metres on average - compared to Haaland’s 4.92m and Hugo Ekitike's 5.32m.

That speaks both to Arsenal's opposition and Gyökeres' own movement.

Is He to Blame?

Not entirely, but he is not blameless either.

Gyökeres was always likely to see his output dip after moving to a stronger league.

However, his reluctance to take risks in tight areas, combined with occasional struggles to secure the ball, have contributed to his muted return.

Former England striker Gary Lineker has suggested Gyökeres needs to be more daring in front of goal, whilst Arteta has acknowledged that, regardless of pressing and work rate, strikers are ultimately judged on goals.

That frustration is not new as former Coventry City assistant manager Adi Viveash told Sky Sports that Gyökeres "would get frustrated if he went three or four games without scoring" - something that now feels familiar.

A Tactical Solution: The Havertz Factor?

One potential fix could lie in pairing Gyökeres with a complementary striker, such as Kai Havertz.

Havertz excels at:

Occupying centre-backs
Linking play with his back to goal
Creating space around the edge of the box

That could allow Gyökeres to operate closer to his Sporting role - attacking space rather than wrestling with defenders.

The comparison to Lautaro Martínez playing off Romelu Lukaku at Inter is an apt one, with Gyökeres best suited to the Martínez role.

Not a Failure - Yet

Despite the goals not flowing, Gyökeres has still made meaningful contributions:

His pressing has forced errors in dangerous areas
His runs have pulled centre-backs out of position
Arsenal sit top of the Premier League

This is not a striker failing in isolation as it is a striker still adapting.

Arteta has spoken about the need to build chemistry and understanding, and history suggests patience is often required.

The Premier League has humbled many elite forwards before they found their rhythm.

Gyökeres is not the first, and he won't be the last.

But if Arsenal are to end their 20-year title drought, finding a way to unlock more goals from their £63.5 million striker may prove decisive.

Also Read: