Arsenal is poised to have a new scoring monster

Despite facing countless criticisms, Viktor Gyokeres stands before the opportunity to become the greatest scorer in a single season at Arsenal since Mikel Arteta took charge.

Viktor Gyokeres' first season at Emirates Stadium was not all smooth sailing. The Swedish striker frequently became the focal point of criticism whenever his scoring dried up, and even when he scored, as in the recent match against Bournemouth, the scrutiny from public opinion did not diminish. However, if one disregards preconceptions and looks purely at the statistical numbers, fans will see a completely different story about the former Sporting CP star.

Up to the present moment, Gyokeres has pocketed 18 goals across all competitions. This number allows him to surpass the scoring achievements of numerous stars like Alexandre Lacazette (17 goals in 2020/21), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Martin Odegaard, and Gabriel Martinelli. Currently, he is just two goals away from Bukayo Saka's record of 20 goals (set in the 2023/24 season).

With at least 6 matches remaining in the Premier League and up to 4 matches in the Champions League, Gyokeres becoming the player with the most goals in a single season under Mikel Arteta's reign is merely a matter of time.

In the Premier League era, only two legendary figures, Thierry Henry and Alexis Sanchez, scored more goals than Gyokeres in their debut season at Arsenal. This is a solid testament that many supporters were completely mistaken in doubting his capabilities.

More notably, this impressive performance was established by Gyokeres in a context where he did not receive much support. A persistent issue is that teammates often miss his intelligent off-the-ball movements, significantly limiting clear opportunities. The loss to Bournemouth was a typical example, as passes to Gyokeres were often delayed by a beat, causing him to fall into an offside position despite nearly perfect positioning runs.

If Arsenal's midfielders can find Gyokeres earlier and provide him with two to three clear chances per match, this striker's statistics will undoubtedly explode even further. Surpassing Saka's 20-goal milestone would not only help Gyokeres etch his name into club history under Arteta but also serve as a firm affirmation of the value of the true "assassin" Arsenal has long sought.