Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are riding high at the top of the Premier League table, and supporters have been told one player doesn’t get the praise he deserves.
Arsenal’s set-piece kings on course to win the Premier League
Their explosive start has not just positioned them as Premier League title favourites, but also as the current kings of set pieces — a deadly weapon that’s wreaking havoc on opposition sides domestically and in Europe.
Arsenal have scored more goals from dead-ball situations than any other top-flight side so far (11), with star defender Gabriel at the heart of it with four contributions to those strikes as the Gunners make their best weapon known.
Corners, free kicks and even throw-ins have become golden scoring opportunities, as Arsenal turn these situations into major results with surgical precision.
Their aerial strength, combined with clever routines, has made them a nightmare for defenders who can’t afford to lose focus for even a moment.
However, at the heart of Arsenal’s success is their impenetrable defence which has conceded the joint-fewest goals, not only in the Premier League, but across Europe’s top leagues (3), with Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma also conceding just three.
The arrival of no-nonsense new backroom coach Gabriel Heinze is viewed as a real contributor to Arsenal’s increasingly water-tight backline, which has somehow become even more solid, despite already leaking the fewest league goals of any Premier League side in each of the last two seasons.
David Raya is in line for this third-successive Golden Glove award, and only a complete disaster in terms of injuries to key defenders would disrupt Arteta’s side right now.
That being said, even when William Saliba was briefly forced out of the side through injury, Cristhian Mosquera performed exceptionally well next to Gabriel at the heart of Arsenal’s defence, and fellow summer signing Piero Hincapie is also on hand to step in.
Given their imperiousness at the back, Viktor Gyokeres has been somewhat overshadowed.
The Swede, who was brought in to take the mantle of Arsenal’s new prolific number nine, got off to a flying start but went seven games without a goal before his much-needed brace against Atlético Madrid last week.
Gyokeres has attracted some criticism for his fairly underwhelming return so far, but journalist Graeme Bailey insists that he’s actually a pretty underrated new member of the team.
Viktor Gyokeres adds extra element to Arsenal that people don’t see
Speaking to TBR Football, Bailey says that Gyokeres brings an “extra element” to Arsenal that “people don’t really see”.
“Gyokeres, who I thought had a fine game, actually,” Bailey said.
“The way he moves defenders around. I think with him, people really don’t see that he really does add an extra element to Arsenal. I think it’s been a huge factor for them.
“But people staying fit, Calafiori and Timber staying fit. Those two fullbacks, I think they’re, not the unsung heroes of this team, but they are really, really good, those two. I think they really are fabulous.”
Interestingly, this thought is echoed by Arteta, who says that Gyokeres makes Arsenal a much more “unpredictable” side.
“We all appreciate him because he makes us a much better team,” Arteta said.
“I think we’ve become much more unpredictable. He’s so physical, opens the spaces for everyone. The way he presses the ball, holds the ball, it’s just phenomenal. And then the icing on the cake and the biggest thing that we’re going to debate about him is goals. He’s scored two very different ones today and hopefully he starts to get some momentum and a good run of goals.”
His in-game play is there for all to see, and the former Sporting CP star has already proved a handful for defenders since his blockbuster summer switch.
Now, Gyokeres just needs to add more goals, then the critics will soon be silenced.