Pundits Analyse Gyokeres' Arsenal Struggles as Trust Issues Emerge
Former Arsenal stars Paul Merson and Ian Wright have delivered pointed analysis of striker Viktor Gyokeres' challenging start to life at the Emirates Stadium, with Merson making the striking claim that the Swedish international isn't trusted by his own teammates.
The £64 Million Signing's Mixed Start
Gyokeres completed his high-profile move from Sporting Lisbon to Arsenal last summer in a transfer valued at £64 million including add-ons, ending prolonged speculation about the Gunners' pursuit of a centre forward. Since arriving in north London, the 27-year-old has scored 11 goals across all competitions, though just six of those have come in Premier League matches this campaign.
This relatively modest return has attracted scrutiny from various pundits, with Merson becoming the latest high-profile figure to express concerns about the striker's integration into Mikel Arteta's system.
Merson's Stark Assessment of Teammate Dynamics
Speaking on the popular Stick to Football podcast, Merson offered a blunt assessment of what he perceives as a fundamental issue within the Arsenal squad regarding their new striker.
"I watch Gyokeres, Arsenal don't trust him, the players," Merson stated emphatically. "They never pass to him, you watch him, next time he comes short they go 'no'."
The former Arsenal midfielder elaborated further by drawing a telling comparison between the service Gyokeres receives and that afforded to his strike partner Gabriel Jesus when he enters the fray.
"If you watch it, you'd be surprised, then when Jesus comes on, they keep on giving it him all the time," Merson observed. "That's what I see from when I watch the game, he comes short and they never give him it. He makes some good runs as well. He's low on confidence at the moment but I don't think they trust him at all."
Wright's Advice for the Struggling Striker
Appearing alongside Merson on the same podcast, Arsenal legend Ian Wright offered a slightly different perspective while still acknowledging the striker's difficulties. Wright suggested that Gyokeres needs to take greater responsibility for communicating his needs to teammates.
Wright posed the question: "Do you think it's because they are not used to him because they haven't had one [a striker] for so long?" before outlining what he believes the Swedish international should be doing differently.
"I've said I would be in the dressing room saying, 'When it's there, pass it to me, put it in the box'," Wright explained. "This is what I am trying to explain, he's got to go in there, coming where he's come from and he's got to start pulling people apart. It's absolutely on him."
Immediate Opportunity for Response
Gyokeres will have his next opportunity to answer his critics and potentially rebuild trust with teammates when Arsenal welcome Sunderland to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday in Premier League action. The Gunners enter the fixture buoyed by their recent victory over Chelsea, which secured their place in the Carabao Cup final.
Arteta's side will be eager to claim three points against Sunderland to extend their six-point advantage at the summit of the Premier League table, with Gyokeres undoubtedly hoping to play a more influential role than he has in recent weeks.
The scrutiny from high-profile pundits like Merson and Wright highlights the intense pressure facing big-money signings at top Premier League clubs, with Gyokeres' adaptation period proving more challenging than many anticipated following his prolific spell in Portugal.
