‘He makes the team better’ – Matt Le Tissier names the one Arsenal player that Mikel Arteta needs back fit
Viktor Gyokeres makes Arsenal a much better team and will be a huge miss for them if his injury picked up against Burnley is serious.
That is according to Premier League legend Matt Le Tissier, who has exclusively told Football Insider that the Swedish striker makes Arsenal a more complete side due to his physical presence in the final third.
Arsenal‘s shortfalls in attack last season saw them explore the transfer market for a prolific number nine in the summer to help propel them towards title glory this season.
Viktor Gyokeres joined the Gunners from Sporting CP for an initial £55million in July to do just that, and while they are currently top of the league, it is not particularly down to his form in front of goal.
The Swede has scored six goals in 14 appearances up to now, but his all-round game has come on leaps and bounds in recent weeks and he looks to be putting a real run of form together as they aim to consolidate their top spot in the Premier League.
Viktor Gyokeres impressive against Burnley but went off injured
Gyokeres’ first three Premier League goals came in the first four games of his Arsenal career, and two of those were against newly-promoted Leeds United, with one in that game being a late penalty.
He netted a brace against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on 21 October after five weeks without scoring, and finally bagged again in the league against Burnley on Saturday (1 November).
Gyokeres opened the scoring at Turf Moor after 14 minutes as Gabriel knocked Declan Rice‘s corner back into his path to give him a simple close-range finish with his head.
Mikel Arteta said it was “one of the best games he’s played” since joining the Gunners, as he also helped set up Rice’s goal for 2-0 with a fine pass to Leandro Trossard, with the most chances created in the game (3) alongside his goal before he went off injured at half-time.
The Arsenal boss has since admitted he is “concerned” about the Swede’s muscular issue, and he will not take part in their Champions League clash against Slavia Prague on Tuesday (4 November) as a result.
Le Tissier insists Arsenal are now definitely a better team with Gyokeres starting
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former England and Southampton striker Le Tissier admitted that the Gunners will want him to score more regularly, but Gyokeres does make their team much better due to his presence as a burly, tough number nine.
He said: “I think they are a better team with a focal point in that centre-forward position, a bit of physical presence.
“I definitely think that they do look a better team for it. I don’t think there’s any question about that.
“Obviously, Gyokeres would probably have preferred to have scored a few more goals at this stage of the season, I’m sure Arsenal would have too, but I think you can comfortably say that they look a better unit with him in the team.”