Bukayo Saka cited as Arsenal are ‘not concerned at all’ about big-name star
Arsenal have enjoyed an excellent start to the season so far with their Premier League and Champions League ambitions growing stronger.
Mikel Arteta’s side beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 at the Emirates, extending their impressive run of form which has seen them lose just one game this season.
Viktor Gyokeres has endured a mixed start to the season since joining from Sporting CP in a deal worth £63.5million, but bounced back with a brace against Atletico.
Prior to his Champions League heroics, the 27-year-old had gone seven games without a goal across all competitions despite the Gunners’ strong run of form.
That led to the likes of Joleon Lescott raising concerns about Gyokeres, with suggestions he remains a major weak link in the Arsenal starting XI.
Arsenal not concerned about Viktor Gyokeres
Gary Lineker also slammed Gyokeres recently, claiming he could damage the Gunners’ ambitions of winning the Premier League.
However, Arteta and his coaching team are not believed to be concerned by the Sweden striker’s performances and are happy with what they’ve seen.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Arsenal’s defensive dominance removes the need for an elite goalscorer.
“We’re getting back to the old ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’ days under George Graham.,” he told Football Insider.
“Gyokeres went seven games without scoring, which has been raised as a bit of a concern.
“But I don’t think Arteta will be worried about that, but I don’t see Arsenal as a side who are going to win 4-0 or 5-0 every week, it’s not how they play.
“If they’re going to be successful this season, it’s going to be built on their solid base.
“They dominate defensive situations, and then they’ve got enough going forward that they’re always going to nick a goal at some stage.
“Even if they only score once or twice in a game, it’s going to be enough to get them a win because their defence is that good they hardly concede.
“Of course, every team in the Premier League wants a striker who is going to score 25-30 goals per season, but Gyokeres isn’t going to be that for Arsenal.
“I’m not sure any player would be that player for Arsenal, because it’s not how they play.
“Arteta will be more than happy with what he’s seeing from Gyokeres, because he works hard and helps take the pressure off of their other forwards like Saka.
“Just because he’s not scoring every week doesn’t mean he isn’t a valuable player.
“So no, I don’t think Arsenal will be concerned about his form at all.”
Since his display against Atletico Madrid, Gyokeres has been praised once more, while he remains very highly regarded among his teammates.
Arsenal tipped to beat Liverpool and Man City in title race
Brown told Football Insider on 22 October that Arsenal have an advantage over Liverpool and Man City in the race for the Premier League title.
Their imperious defensive unit has seen them concede just three goals across 12 games in all competitions, while their rivals look far less solid.
As things stand, Arsenal are on track to beat Chelsea’s record of just 15 goals conceded across a 38 game season, when the Blues won the title in the 2004-05 season.
The Gunners have lost just one game so far this season, a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, but have since kept up their form while their rivals have stuttered.
Liverpool are on a four-game losing streak, and while Man City have picked up their form due to Erling Haaland’s goalscoring exploits, they remain in second.
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