English Media Slam 4/10 Victor Gyokeres After Wolves 2-2 Arsenal

The English media have torn into a “desperately disappointing” Arsenal player as Mikel Arteta’s side hit the skids with a 2-2 draw at Wolves on Wednesday night. The Gunners became the first side in Premier League history to be top of the table and let a two-goal lead slip against a team in the relegation zone when Riccardo Calafiori’s own goal levelled it in stoppage time at Molineux.

It could prove a turning point in the title race, with Manchester City now potentially just two points behind if they win their game in hand – meaning they could yet condemn Arsenal to a 22nd year without a title after they finished as bridesmaids in the last three campaigns.

At the start of the term, it seemed Arteta had everything he needed to finally guide Arsenal to silverware. Now that no longer appears to be the case, and his search for a reliable goalscorer – one to complement his naturally risk-averse approach and help kill games off once they take the lead – looks set to rumble on, as Viktor Gyokeres feels the full brunt of a national media spotlight that rarely lets its targets a second’s rest.

Related

Arsenal Fans Worried by ‘Exhausted’ Star Who Looked ‘Completely Finished’ vs Wolves

The Gunners gave up their 2-0 lead deep into stoppage time as Manchester City continue to bear down on them in the Premier League.

How Viktor Gyokeres Performed in Wolves 2-2 Arsenal

With just eight goals in 24 league appearances this season, Gyokeres has struggled to prove that he can take his phenomenal goalscoring exploits for Sporting – where he netted 97 goals in 102 appearances – and translate them into a major European league. Previously dubbed by critics as a “small team bully,” his 65 minutes against the cellar-dwellers even put that reputation into question.

In that timeframe, the Sweden international didn’t manage a single shot – the one thing his job description practically demanded when the Gunners took the £63.5 million punt on him over the summer. He also completed only four passes, misfired on another three, and offered just one defensive contribution with no dribble attempts to speak of.

With those stats in mind, the 27-year-old may as well have stayed on the bench before Gabriel Jesus was summoned. While Erling Haaland thrives with little touches, it seems Arsenal are crying out for a frontman who can unlock new dimensions to their game rather than just finish off chances.

At the same time, they may struggle to get more out of their current first-choice striker if he continues to buckle under the increasing media spotlight – a test he will now face head-on.

Football.london gave Gyokeres a 4/10 for his performance in midweek, commenting: “Really poor game from the striker, who failed to get into the match whatsoever and made some poor choices in the rare moments he was on it.” Elsewhere, the Express handed him the same score, adding:

The Standard lamented the amount Arsenal spent on Gyokeres, remarking: “Offered nothing. Time and time again he failed to hold the ball up when Arsenal went long. No shots and just one touch in the Wolves box. A couple of decent runs down the channels is not enough from a £64m striker.”

To conclude, GOAL’s assessment of Gyokeres was ever-so slightly more lenient as they rated him 5/10, but were unable to make any note on things the striker did well. They wrote: “Largely uninvolved in the first half, having just six touches in the opening 45 minutes. Things didn’t get better in the second half before his withdrawal.”