Viktor Gyokeres doubters told they don’t understand football as Sweden boss hits back on Arsenal ace

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Arsenal ace Viktor Gyokeres has endured a mixed start to his career in North London so far, following his high-profile move in the summer transfer window.

The striker was viewed as the final piece of the puzzle for Mikel Arteta and his team, following several seasons of coming close to winning the Premier League.

A clinical forward was needed, so Arsenal signed Gyokeres from Sporting CP, but there has been a period of adjustment.

With a new profile in the frontline has come a new way of playing, as both the team and the striker have to get used to each other.

There was a flurry of goals that saw the Swedish international get up and running, but recent matches have followed with a dry spell.

Despite that, Viktor Gyokeres continues to work hard and offer something to the overall team, something that Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson has defended him over.

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Jon Dahl Tomasson defends Viktor Gyokeres after Arsenal start

Viktor Gyokeres has offered a different dimension to Arsenal so far this season, with his willing runs and strength causing problems for any team.

While the goals aren’t exactly flowing yet, it’s quite clear he is affecting the team.

Arteta revealed his joy with Gyokeres following his side’s win over West Ham, even though he didn’t find the back of the net.

With some doubters remaining, Sweden boss Tomasson has hit back, telling the press: “Viktor Gyokeres is in very good form at the moment and is very good.

“If people say he doesn’t have an impact, then they don’t understand football and don’t have a clue about football. He creates space for other players, works on the ball and makes runs.

“It’s excellent, and he scores goals almost all the time, so he has an impact and has been very good. It’s always nice, as you need time when you come to a new club.”

By having that presence up front, Arsenal have been playing differently, with goals coming all around him.

If signing Gyokeres came with the promise of goals, then he has done just that, but in a much more indirect sense.

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Arsenal forward line is benefitting from Viktor Gyokeres

While plenty have drawn comparisons in playing style between Gyokeres and Erling Haaland, the pair are actually occupying slightly different roles.

Haaland is the goal-scorer in chief, taking on the responsibility of scoring a large share of his team’s shots this season.

While that flows through him, Gyokeres is doing something different by standing on the last line and occupying centre-backs.

This is creating space for other attackers to thrive, such as Bukayo Saka, who isn’t getting doubled up on in the same way.

That is reflected in the numbers so far, with Arsenal scoring the second-most goals this season (14), behind only Manchester City (15).

That’s even ahead of a Liverpool team that features Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, who are all yet to click.

The Gunners are starting to move along nicely, and Gyokeres is looking like a better fit than at first.