Alan Shearer ylistää Viktor Gyökeresiä – Ruotsalaistähti on muuttanut Arsenalin hyökkäyspelin suunnan

When Arsenal fans talk football these days, Viktor Gyökeres is one of the first names that comes up. The Swedish striker — signed last summer from Sporting Lisbon for €65 million — arrived in London carrying both a heavy price tag and equally hefty expectations. The goals haven’t flowed freely yet, but those who see beyond the scoreline, including Premier League legend Alan Shearer, think there’s something far deeper at play.

Shearer believes Gyökeres hasn’t just joined Arsenal — he’s changed how they attack.

A new kind of number nine

Mikel Arteta’s side has been evolving, trying to refine that delicate balance between patience and punch in the final third. This is exactly where Gyökeres makes his mark.

Last season, Arsenal often leaned on Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz to drop deep and knit attacks together. It worked, but only to a degree. What Arteta really wanted was a striker who’d live on the shoulder of defenders — a player who’d take risks, stretch backlines, and create the spaces that Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka could exploit with their creativity.

Gyökeres has become precisely that. His constant movement, his hunger to dart behind the defense — these are the traits that Shearer highlights as Arsenal’s new edge. With defenders forced to drop back, room opens up for Arsenal’s midfielders to create and combine.

Even though Gyökeres has only scored three goals in 842 minutes, Arsenal’s expected goals (xG) per match has risen by about 10 percent from last season. In plain terms, they’re now generating better chances, from closer range, and more frequently.

Finding his place — not losing it

Not all supporters are feeling patient. Weeks without league goals can make even the calmest fan uneasy. Some have started asking: Is Gyökeres really the cold-blooded finisher Arsenal needed?

Context, though, is everything. At Sporting, he was the focal point — the hub of every attack. At Arsenal, he’s part of a bigger machine. His purpose isn’t only to score but to make others more dangerous.

Arteta is sculpting him into a complete forward — a leader of the press, and a selfless runner who stretches defenses thin. The numbers back this evolution: Gyökeres plays a part in half a goal-scoring sequence per match on average, and his pressing contributes to Arsenal winning the ball higher upfield. It’s the aggressive, front-foot identity Arteta has long sought.

Shearer’s verdict: patience will pay off

Shearer, ever calm in assessing strikers, sees no reason for concern. For him, Gyökeres’ influence is already visible in Arsenal’s faster, sharper attacking rhythm.

Shearer’s belief is simple — once Gyökeres rediscovers his finishing touch, everything else will fall into place.

And that’s the essence of it. Modern football no longer measures strikers by goals alone. Their movement, pressing, and ability to reshape defensive structures matter just as much. On those fronts, Gyökeres has already justified every euro of his transfer fee.

What’s next

Arsenal still has its eyes on the Premier League title. Gyökeres isn’t expected to carry that ambition alone, but he’ll be central to the title chase — a forward capable of deciding matches with one burst of energy or a perfectly timed run.

Analysts, Shearer among them, remain convinced that once his understanding with Ødegaard and Saka fully matures, the floodgates will open. His recent outing against Liverpool hinted at what’s to come — inexhaustible movement, rapid link-up play, and defenders in constant retreat.

So, Arsenal may not have just signed another striker. They might have secured the missing link that completes their attacking blueprint.

In short

• Gyökeres adds a new edge to Arsenal’s attack with his directness and off-ball work.
• Shearer believes his contribution goes far beyond goals.
• Arsenal’s attacking stats reflect immediate improvement.
• The goals will come as Gyökeres settles further into Arteta’s system.

So, what’s your verdict? Has Gyökeres already proven his worth, or is his best yet to come?