Sophia
Just one month into the new season, the impact of Viktor Gyökeres on Arsenal’s style of play is already evident, sparking discussions about his integration into Mikel Arteta’s meticulously crafted system. While the Swedish striker has shown glimpses of his prolific potential, an admission from his former Sporting CP teammate, Pedro Gonçalves, has cast a spotlight on the potential adaptation challenges.
A Striker of Depth, Not Short Passes
Gonçalves, a key playmaker during their time together at Sporting CP, revealed that it took significant time for the team to adjust to Gyökeres’s preferred style of play. This style, characterized by a relentless pursuit of depth rather than intricate short passing combinations, stands in stark contrast to the possession-centric, short-passing system that Mikel Arteta has painstakingly built at Arsenal over the past five years.
“With Viktor, it took us longer to adapt because he wasn’t a player who sought connections, first touches, and those one-twos, but rather depth,” Gonçalves explained to Sporting’s official website. “At that time, it was harder for me to adapt to his style of play, but since then, he’s made history for the club, as we know it.”
From Championship Prolificacy to European Stage
Gyökeres arrived at Sporting in 2023 after three years in the Championship, where he belatedly unearthed his prolific potential. While goals were his undeniable currency – his former Coventry City manager Mark Robins once noted, “If he didn’t score after a game he’d be in a foul mood” – his game lacked the refinement often associated with top-tier football. Prior to his arrival, Ruben Amorim had transformed Sporting into a possession-based side with a fluid frontline, exemplified by Gonçalves, a diminutive No. 10, leading the club in scoring during their first title under the now Manchester United-linked coach.
A Shift in Arsenal’s Attacking Dynamics
The introduction of Gyökeres has already forced a noticeable tactical shift at Arsenal. Last season, the Gunners, with Kai Havertz and later Mikel Merino operating through the middle, largely focused on gradually building attacks through short passes, with their forwards often dropping deep. This season, however, the numbers tell a different story.
According to SkillCorner (via The Athletic), Gyökeres racked up an astonishing 85 sprints behind the defensive line in the 2024–25 campaign. To put this in perspective, it’s more than double the next most prolific striker in Portugal and significantly surpasses the leading mark among all Premier League centre-forwards last season – Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea managed 61. This desire to “hare beyond the opposition’s rearguard” is a stark departure from Arsenal’s recent attacking blueprint.
Last term, only Manchester City boasted a larger proportion of passes travelling less than 15 yards than the Gunners. This season, half the division is now more likely to play it short than Arteta’s evolving side, indicating a clear adaptation to Gyökeres’s forward-thinking approach.
Sporting’s Success Story: A Blueprint for Arsenal?
Despite the initial challenges, Sporting CP ultimately adapted brilliantly to Gyökeres’s style, with the striker plundering an incredible 97 goals in 102 games for the club, leading them to back-to-back league titles. This historical success offers a compelling precedent for Arsenal.
While some early concerns were raised regarding his adaptation to the physical demands of Arsenal’s intense off-the-ball work, Gyökeres has already shown flashes of the clinical edge that convinced the club to invest a substantial £64 million ($86.3 million) in him this summer. His celebration is quickly becoming a familiar sight at the Emirates, signaling a promising future.
The journey to fully integrate Gyökeres into Arsenal’s system may require patience and further tactical adjustments from Mikel Arteta. However, if his past success at Sporting is any indication, the rewards of adapting to his unique, goal-hungry style could be immense for the Gunners.
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