“Viktor Gyokeres has been the standout player in Liga Portugal, consistently scoring goals and providing assists. Since joining the Portuguese club, he has scored 34 goals and provided 12 assists in his first season. Let’s analyze why he is considered one of the most lethal strikers in recent times.”
Gyökeres is a physical, powerful, athletic, fast, and clinical #9! His ball-striking is quite exciting, as he’s always capable of pulling out a shot out of nowhere. Unpredictability and his maturity in finishing are a bonus package for him. It might not be the most aesthetically pleasing goal, but he does have unique shooting methods that reward his goals. First, let’s start with his player profile:
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Viktor Gyokeres – Player Profile
Age: 25
Club: Sporting CP
Position: CF
Foot: Right
Nationality: Swedish
Value: £55M
Height: 6’2
Avg. SofaScore rating: 7.39
He has a wide range of finishes in his library: one-touch goals, flicks, toe pokes, rebounds, and also dribbling the keeper to score in an empty net. This states how comfortable he is with drifting into dangerous positions. His shot map shows all the ranges and widths he benefits from massively.
A self-sufficient striker who’s easily capable of creating goal-scoring opportunities for himself by taking on his man through different options. His movements in the box and running behind defenses make him very lethal as a striker.
He is very efficient as well as effective in his hold-up play and dropping into deeper positions to help create chances for others. Pass and move is one of his key traits, while he then crashes into the box after playing it to the flanks.
His playmaking ability is unquestionable. His take-ons completed, touches in the penalty area, shot-creating actions, and progressive passes received are ranked in the very best percentiles for a striker. His altruistic nature talks about how he isn’t a selfish player. Sacrifices a lot of chances and creates for his teammates. Has the right instincts to release the ball at the right time (key passing stats). It would be quite optimal for a side like Arsenal to bag him.
Gyokeres uses his strength to his maximum advantage by shielding the ball and often bullying defenders aerially as well as in ground duels. He has thrived at club level by doing the job of being the only outlet upfront. He naturally possesses the work rate and press that allow him to run behind defenses and cause chaos with his physicality and athleticism. He’s more than capable of playing with his back to goal, and it helps him get out of tricky situations. The use of his core body strength is quite impressive when you watch him play. Absolute bully!
He has the spatial awareness to protect the ball from a defender, as well as the physical presence to maintain balance when there’s contact. He very often makes life hell for defenders by spinning them around in a neat circle. His positioning in the box is good, with decent off-the-ball movements and very good ball striking.
His pace and acceleration help him latch onto loose balls and also make instinctive runs to break the defensive line. Often drifts off to the left-hand side to receive and run onto the opposition. You give him the space, and he’ll eat you up.
Dribbling is one of his trademarks, and it doesn’t come as a surprise that he’s very good at dribbling through wide areas, particularly. He takes on defenders 1v1 and often uses his laces on the right foot to draw the opponent and force them into his favorable positions. His dribbling and strong first touch help him get into spaces where he can burst into more offensive positions.
Through this, he can also wait for movements from his teammates while also drifting inward with his switch of pace and shooting. His assertive and direct nature with the ball is impressive, which makes him a very unpredictable route while going forward.
Gyokeres is an xG monster. He scores goals for fun. That’s what we’re missing, along with the clinical nature of CF! Quite literally, everything you would dream for your CF to have! xG overperformance is insane this season (picture).
Let’s look at some aspects of his game he can improve on:
Lack of using his weak foot: it’s not that he can’t use it, but he’s heavily dependent on his right foot. He doesn’t possess the same vibe on the right flank with his left foot as on the left flank with his right foot. If he focuses on using it frequently and accurately, his options would widen while having a shot at goal.
Arsenal haven’t had an aerial threat in the box for seasons, and Havertz has been showcasing what they’ve missed in that position. Gyokeres isn’t as exceptional as the others in the air, but he does use his body well to receive the ball. His aerial numbers are quite poor for a player of his height.
Drawing fouls isn’t an issue, but he does tend to fall to the ground with his back to goal with serious contact from any defender. It’s kind of concerning because he has the physicality; he just needs to use it to his strengths.
These things can be coached through and wouldn’t remain major issues then.
How would Gyokeres fit in at Arsenal?
Gyokeres could start as the poacher for Arsenal while having Havertz besides him being the False 9. This could be advantageous to both, as they’d play through each other’s weaknesses. A tall man with Gyokeres in front. One could be the ‘target man’ and the other a ‘runner’.
A different shout at the wings: His dribbling and past history do show that he has the capability to play on the wings, especially when he was integrated for Sweden.
As a matter of fact, Gyokeres can be an updated version of Trossard in the current system, allowing a better bromance to be created with Havertz. He could run the channels and link up with them. The aerial presence and hold-up play can complement each other’s playing styles.
He thrives on his own creation while also putting the ball on the plate for others. He can involve our front three in all the attacks and force the CBs backwards to create space.
Conclusion
A chaotic player who thrives on space, physicality, athleticism, and insane ballstriking is a go-to player for every club in the upcoming transfer window. A player is worth throwing the bag at for whatever the price it is to bargain him for.
Watching his highlights at Coventry, you can see the potential he has. With him almost never missing his chances and bagging goals left, right, and center, he can easily replace the bagsman we’ve been missing for years in the current system we’ve adapted to. It’s not a question after the number of chances we create; this is being realistic. It’s on the player and how he adapts to it.
The talk arising about him having a purple patch or not having the experience is false. Watching him play for Coventry and Sporting shows he has the potential. The Portuguese players pass the test when they translate to the PL.
