To Viktor, the spoils…
The doubts surrounding Viktor Gyokeres have been unrelenting for a while.
It is a matter which Mikel Arteta finds himself returning to each few weeks, regardless of the Swede’s eight Premier League targets earlier than Arsenal’s go to to Tottenham.
Targets have not essentially been the problem – it has been his general play, and tendency to go lacking in video games.
Given the frontline can generally appear so reliant on Bukayo Saka, it’s a large assist if Arsenal’s No 9 is totally firing. That was definitely the case right here.
Gyokeres received himself concerned instantly, and had a shot on seven minutes whistle simply extensive of the publish.
Viktor Gyokeres finishes clinically for his second of the sport within the dying moments for 4-1
From there, he sniffed round within the last third with out producing a lot – earlier than returning after the break to devastating impact.
His first purpose, which rocketed previous Guglielmo Vicario, mirrored the striker’s sheer ball-striking energy which he can utilise when given the house across the space.
He collected the ball from the sting of the field with no defender shut by earlier than unleashing a robust shot.
After which his second strike, muscling Archie Grey off earlier than curling the ball residence, confirmed the instincts of an actual striker.
The way in which he marched via confirmed a dominance which has hardly ever proven at Arsenal.
Even with the dedication, his team-mates have beforehand not made sufficient of an effort to seek out Gyokeres. Maybe they’ve been reluctant due to the ahead’s profligacy on the ball.
However from the proof of Sunday they need to look to contain the striker additional.
He now has the impetus to kick on from a show which is able to go a way in direction of quietening the doubts which have adopted him.
Gyokeres takes within the applause of Arsenal’s travelling followers after the sport
When requested if this was Gyokeres’ finest efficiency for Arsenal, Arteta mentioned: ‘I feel so. I feel his general play was unimaginable, the effectivity, the targets that he scored. He was actually, actually good at the moment.’
With Kai Havertz injured as soon as once more and Gabriel Jesus on the periphery, Arsenal badly want Gyokeres on tune.
An attention-grabbing change was how Arteta did not take Gyokeres off within the second interval, as he has executed in 9 of his earlier 10 league begins.
That has typically modified the context of video games and arguably allowed opposition groups in due to the modified form, contributing to the dropping of factors.
So Arteta realized from that right here, and you’ll anticipate this pattern to proceed.
Eze does it – now over to Odegaard!
The sight of Eberechi Eze’s brace was unhealthy information for just one man: Martin Odegaard.
The Gunners captain was on the bench having lately returned from a muscle damage.
Although even earlier than his time on the sidelines, the Norwegian underwhelmed.
The heights of his mixed 20 targets and assists within the league from the 2023-24 season have appeared miles away, and Odegaard has typically discovered it arduous to make an influence within the last third.
These incisive via balls and difficult runs that are hallmarks of his recreation have lacked to the frustration of supporters.
Eberechi Eze now has 5 targets in simply two video games towards Spurs this season
Eze’s Arsenal profession appeared to have taken a significant hit simply two weeks in the past, when he was hooked at half-time of the 1-1 draw with Brentford in a poor displaying.
He was largely nameless, and Arteta’s transfer to take him off early was extensively seen as a scapegoating second.
It made this match all of the extra essential for the attacker – and he took his likelihood with aplomb.
These have been his first league targets since hanging a hat-trick towards Spurs in November, a group who had wished to signal him. He’ll now wish to kick on.
Arteta mentioned: ‘I might see that he wished to show one thing.
‘He was upset, even with me, as a result of I did not play him the opposite day from the start, and a few of the selections that I made. And I simply have to grasp how we’ll get one of the best out of him now.’
The supervisor was clear – Eze has not been comfortable occupying the bench, having joined the membership for £67.5million on the expense of their rivals. He moved for recreation time on the way in which to trophies.
Odegaard will now have some activity to win his place again.
Martin Odegaard celebrates after the fourth, however will he must get used to being a substitute?
Now hold it clear…
An space Arteta must proceed monitoring is the problem of conceding targets.
Right here, Arsenal shipped a purpose simply two minutes after Eze’s opening strike. But, it is the extra wider pattern.
Total, solely Crystal Palace and West Ham (each eight) have dropped extra factors from successful positions within the league in 2026 than the Gunners (seven).
After all, the Gunners cantered on to a sizeable scoreline on this event. However conceding avoidable targets will come again to chunk you as a rule.
On Sunday it was a Declan Rice error which allowed Randal Kolo Muani to attain.
It was just a few months in the past that Chelsea’s clean-sheet report was being touted as a goal for this group to interrupt.
Now, conceding targets has develop into a behavior – and it is one which must be ironed out quick, if Arsenal are to proceed to set the tempo on the high.
