Viktor Gyokeres: Page 131 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One more in the Tolly

Viktor Gyokeres

Qwiss

Don Pacifico Correlation isn't the same as causation. Yes, Gyokeres played a role but it was his availability and little else. The PL winning animate carbon rod.

That's absolute nonsense. Why would any one bother even engaging with such ridiculous arguments?

Don Pacifico

Qwiss genuine question but what demonstrable talent does he have that couldn't be found in your average PL striker?

Mirth

Don Pacifico

Strikers that moved in 2025: Isak, Sesko, Woltemade, Calvert-Lewis, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Wissa and Ekitike

Gyokeres compares pretty well there.

daredevil

Mirth

The biggest flaw in the anti-Gyokeres and also anti-Havertz arguments is that they keep being judged against historical striking standards i.e. how they match up against ones perception of an elite striker shaped by years of watching Aguero, Aubameyang and co., instead of the actual question of how do they rank up against their striking peers in 2026.

If this was 2012 - I would not be a Havertz fan but in 2026, he’s one of the best around. Gyokeres is no different. Outside of Mbappe, Kane and Haaland, it’s touch and go about how who is left and how they rank.

RowJimmy

He compares well to some of those primarily in that he stayed fit. I know that availability is the best ability and so forth, but a lot of that is just luck.

Qwiss

RowJimmy Not really. On goals per 90 he's better than Woltemade, Isak, DCL, Depal and Wissa and equal with Joao Pedro and Ekitike on .6 per 90 according to squawka. He also had better goals per 90 last season than Kai or Alvarez.

The idea that anyone could match his goal output is just not true. He'll never be new Henry or Wright but he's a pretty solid CF. In a market with no standout strikers available I think we're well stocked with Gyok and Kai as long as Kai can stay fit.

Doc

Don't forgot his defender occupation stats!! Those are next level...

Let's just sign a top class striker and this debate will resolve itself..guy is as bang average as they come, but tbh I'm hopeful that he might be more suited this season as the 5 players behind him now are more capable of carrying the build up..

Gyok should just focus on being a box player, forgot all that shit you were doing in the Portuguese league, not going to fly here with his ability on the ball...

USArsenal

Doc Let's just sign a top class striker and this debate will resolve itself..

And who, pray tell, would that be? There are hardly a glut of top class strikers out there that are widely available that would fit into our system and the way we like to play. I mean, we're not gonna sign Haaland.

MistaT

Still trust him to outscore Kai Havertz this season

Mirth

MistaT tbh Havertz has scored 3 in his last 5 games for us plus 3 in 4 for Germany. He’ll never be clinical but I can see Kai doing well this season and get around 20 goals himself.

lorddulaarsenal

MistaT only because Kai is likely to be unavailable

QuincyAbeyie

https://www.cannonstats.com/p/we-shouldnt-be-asking-if-viktor-gyokeres

Pretty much agree with this. As long as his minutes are limited, I don't mind him staying.

My problem with him isn't a lack of goals, but that scoring goals is his best attribute and even that isn't something he's outstanding at.

Don Pacifico

QuincyAbeyie My problem with him isn't a lack of goals, but that scoring goals is his best attribute and even that isn't something he's outstanding at.

So much this.

USArsenal

Mirth

If we get both Kai and Gyokeres scoring 15-20 (all comps) goals each for us, im ok with that.

MistaT

I have a lot more interest in Kai playing as a CF if we have capable runners on the wings. But I don't think Tzolis and (a hamstrung) Sake are going to be running behind like Martinelli.

My concern then is we head back towards the horseshoe of attacking ineptitude as Kai wanders aways from central areas too often. I saw him deeper than Odegaard (maybe even another CM) and both wingers a few times vs Man City for example.

Qwiss

MistaT This is even more of an issue with Alvarez. If we sign him we need to go get someone like Rashford to play LW because having an entire attack of creators is pointless without someone to finish.

Tam

So is the real issue the guy who has proven he can get us 20+ goals, or the guy who people believe could in theory, but who has never remained fit enough to do so, and when he has remained fit, has never actually done so?

Mirth

Tam past performance doesn’t indicate future returns?

Prior to his injury, Havertz managed around 15 goals a season. Since he came back from injury Arteta picked him in the CL final, the community shield and the must win game vs Burnley. He’s scored in all 3. Arteta also started him against City away where he - admittedly - missed a sitter.

Overall I’m pretty sure Arteta views Havertz has first choice and I don’t think it’ll require too much over performance for Havertz to hit 20 goals himself. I also think Gyokeres will finish with a similar tally too but won’t be the main striker.

QuincyAbeyie

Tam do you think that when Arteta chooses Havertz this season it's exclusively because he thinks Havertz has a better chance of scoring a goal than Gyokeres or could it be that more than one stat matter?

GooneriC

Havertz just needs to stay in the number 9 / 10 zone most of the time and he will get the chances. My problem with him is he misses too many . Hopefully he can rectify that , could get 20-25 goals

Bernard Woolley

Mirth If we keep both, I’d like to see Kai start games against the top 7-8 clubs in PL and against the “better” CL opponents and VG14 can step in for the games against the lesser lights. That should maximize effectiveness for both and manage Kai’s minutes as well.

Tam

Mirth past performance doesn’t indicate future returns?

If a financial regulatory warning truly applied to football, we really wouldn't need to worry about the injury issues of Havertz, Timber, White, Calafiori, the inefficiency of Madueke, or the lack of direct productivity of Odegaard, because we can all live in the hope their history has no bearing on what they will produce this season in terms of fitness, form, or end product.

@QuincyAbeyie I'm sceptical about whether Arteta will have the luxury of choosing Havertz frequently enough for it to be an issue, and even more sceptical that Havertz will score more than 20 goals this season. If he does great, you can bash me over the head with my sceptical outlook come next May.

Claudius

Qwiss disagree. All of our forwards can finish. We just need to put them into those spaces. Alvarez is more likely than Gyok to do that

Mirth

Tam If a financial regulatory warning truly applied to football, we really wouldn't need to worry about the injury issues of Havertz, Timber, White, Calafiori, the inefficiency of Madueke, or the lack of direct productivity of Odegaard, because we can all live in the hope their history has no bearing on what they will produce this season in terms of fitness, form, or end product.

Or you could just evaluate each opportunity on their own merits....

I did write about another 100 words that you cut out. If history was the deciding factor, we wouldn't be league champions.

QuincyAbeyie

Tam even more sceptical that Havertz will score more than 20 goals this season

My point was literally that Arteta will prefer Havertz regardless of whether he scores less because goalscoring is far from the only requirement for a striker unless you're putting up Haaland-like numbers. Havertz scoring less than Gyokeres would not mean he's a worse option.

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