Mikel Arteta can supercharge ‘really sharp’ Arsenal star with key Viktor Gyokeres tactic
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be able to get the best out of a star player once a relationship emerges with summer arrival Viktor Gyokeres.
Gyokeres joined Arsenal from Sporting in a highly anticipated move to solve the Gunners’ problems in the striker role.
Despite scoring two goals after Leeds, Gyokeres has been criticised for his performances against Manchester United and Liverpool, which has not helped the struggling form of one team mate.
Arsenal‘s defeat to Liverpool means they’re already playing catch-up in the Premier League title race, and they welcome a Nottingham Forest side managed by Ange Postecoglou this weekend.
How Viktor Gyokeres can get the best out of Gabriel Martinelli
Gyokeres’ start to life at Arsenal has not been helped by an injury picked up by Bukayo Saka and the form of Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank.
Last season Arteta called Martinelli “really sharp“, as per Arsenal, after a 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, but the Brazilian failed to hit double figures in the campaign.
The 24-year-old is proving a conundrum for Arteta to solve and he has yet to register a goal or assist this season for the club.
Martinelli’s form could be down to Gyokeres, as per Simon Collings in The Standard [9 September], as the winger had a “great understanding” with Gabriel Jesus.
“Jesus would regularly drift out left, leaving space for Martinelli to cut inside and exploit. It is hoped that Viktor Gyokeres could spark a similar relationship with Martinelli, as the Swede also likes to peel out to the left channel,” Collings said.
“That change in personnel could help Martinelli and it could be the same for other players on the left side of Arsenal’s team.
“Declan Rice has excelled as a No8, but it could be that playing Eze with Martinelli in some games unlocks the Brazilian.
“Likewise, at left-back, new arrival Piero Hincapie likes to overlap and that could give Martinelli space to cut inside.”
Martinelli and Gyokeres’ understanding will develop over time, though Arteta needs the relationship to click sooner rather than later for his title hopes.
Gabriel Martinelli must rekindle 2022/23 form
When Arsenal nearly won the Premier League title in the 2022-23 season, Martinelli’s form was a major positive for Arteta.
Martinelli has not reached the same heights since, and despite Gyokeres joining Arsenal to help fire the Gunners to the title, other players also need to contribute.
| Gabriel Martinelli | Stats |
| Appearances | 46 |
| Goals | 15 |
| Assists | 7 |
If Martinelli’s form does not improve, then he faces the axe from the starting XI now that Arteta also has Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke to call upon.
Martinelli has the pace to trouble any defence, though he needs to add end product to his game to be able to take the next step up.