Arsenal faced criticism last January for failing to sign a new striker despite obvious needs. When Gabriel Jesus suffered an ACL injury, it only highlighted their lack of firepower up front. The club eventually splashed £63.5 million on Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP, hoping he could replicate his prolific Portuguese form.
However, Gyokeres has found the transition to Premier League football challenging. While physically imposing, he has struggled to find the net consistently. In 7 league appearances, he has scored just 3 goals – with 2 coming in one match against Leeds.
The Swedish striker has looked isolated in big matches, with pundit Jamie Carragher noting: “They haven`t created a chance for him.” Captain Martin Odegaard`s injury further compounds Arsenal`s creative issues.
So what`s the solution for Mikel Arteta? One option could be deploying Eberechi Eze closer to Gyokeres to provide more service. But perhaps it`s time for a change up front altogether.
Mikel Merino has been in excellent form recently. The Spanish midfielder offers intelligent movement and clinical finishing. With Gyokeres misfiring, could Arteta consider using Merino as a false nine to reinvigorate Arsenal`s attack?
As Arsenal chase silverware this season, finding a consistent goalscorer is crucial. Whether it`s Gyokeres rediscovering his touch or Merino in a new role, Arteta must find a solution to unlock his team`s offensive potential.
Vihaan Mehrotra