VIKTOR GYOKERES has already missed one reunion with a former club this season.
And the striker will be worried about being a spectator for another this weekend when Arsenal head to Brighton.
Viktor Gyokeres is yet to score for Arsenal this season and has had just one shot on goal Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Mikel Arteta continues to prefer Kai Havertz up front Credit: Getty
Gyokeres, 28, did not get a kick on the opening day of the campaign when the Gunners welcomed his old side Coventry to the Emirates.
The Swede’s fortunes have not improved since then and he is still yet to get off the mark.
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In fact, Tuesday’s trip to Ipswich in the Carabao Cup was the first time this season that Gyokeres had a shot on goal.
It is a worrying stat, but the striker can point to a lack of action as an explanation.
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Tuesday was just his second start of the season after also leading the line against Napoli in the Champions League earlier this month.
In the Premier League, Gyokeres has played just 12 minutes off the bench.
That was as a late substitute in a 2-1 win over Chelsea and Mikel Arteta’s interaction before throwing the striker on was interesting.
The Spaniard gave Gyokeres a big hug from behind, before shaking him and offering words of encouragement.
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Perhaps that was needed after what felt like a difficult end to the transfer window for the Swede.
He did not play a minute in Arsenal’s opening two Prem games while it was open, and also had to cope with talk about the Gunners eyeing a late move for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alaverz.
All of that coincided with Kai Havertz’s flying start to the season and the German has scored three times in six appearances.
It would only be natural for Gyokeres to be impacted by that – but he needs to turn things around.
Havertz is clearly Arteta’s preferred No9 right now and it is hard to escape the feeling that the attack is centred around him.
Gyokeres was Arsenal’s top scorer in all competitions last season, finding the net 21 times, but he risks being left behind if the team continues to evolve this way.
There is, though, still plenty of time for him to turn things around.
The Gunners will now likely have two games a week until the end of the year thanks to the Carabao Cup and Champions League.
Arteta is ready to rotate – and that will open the door to Gyokeres.
The striker can also take heart from his ability to bounce back. If there is one thing he has shown during his career, it is mental strength.
Even last season, after a rocky start, he fought back and delivered during the final months of the campaign.
Right now, the 28-year-old looks in need of a spark and that is why the upcoming international break may be well timed for him.
It benefitted Gyokeres last season in March, when he returned to Arsenal full of confidence after firing Sweden to the World Cup.
He scored five times in the next eight games, including the very next match after the international break.
The striker could do with history repeating itself now and Sweden boss Graham Potter believes a change of scenery will help.
Potter said: “Players at this level will always get criticism at some point, but there is no problem here.
“We love Viktor. He enjoys being here. We will create the best conditions for him so that he can continue to be a top player.
“Things happen. Things go up and down, just like life does. He’s a Premier League winner. He scored a lot of goals as a number nine for Arsenal.
“Sometimes a change of context, a change of environment can help a player. We’re going to help him enjoy his football.”
