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Arsenal star named as key to unlocking Viktor Gyokeres’ full potential
Viktor Gyokeres has been backed to continue improving for Arsenal amid his impressive run of recent form.
The Swedish striker continued his goal-glut with a double off the bench against Sunderland on Saturday.
Those efforts took his tally for the club to 13 in 32 appearances since his £63.7million move from Sporting Lisbon in the summer.
Gyokeres has faced criticism from fans and pundits during his first year in England, despite being the Gunners’ top scorer this season.
However, former Arsenal winger Perry Groves believes the best is yet to come from the 27-year-old.
As well as his significant price tag, Gyokeres also arrived off the back of scoring 97 goals in just 102 appearances for Sporting.
Although he has yet to replicate that strike rate in the Premier League, he has made a faster start than several Arsenal icons.
Appearing on the latest episode of talkSPORT’s Inside Gooners, Groves explained: “I’ve been chairman of Gyokeres’ fan club since he came.
“There’s been a lot of negativity from ex-players and ex-centre forwards. I just said he needed time to settle in.
“He was Sporting Lisbon’s main man. So he sort of ruled the roost there and told players what he wanted. You come to us, you’re a different level and you’re judged on a different level.
“In his first 32 games for Arsenal, he’s scored more goals than Thierry Henry did and more goals than Dennis Bergkamp did, one was 11 and one was 10.
“If you remember when they first came, especially Henry, the press was on him, even the fans were on him.
“I remember (Robert) Pires, when he first came, the first nine, 10 games, the fans weren’t having him, but you’ve got to go with what your eyes are telling you.”
Gyokeres’ goal tally this term includes eight goals in 23 Premier League appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Groves continued: “I know that he can only get better, and he’s our top scorer. He’s got 13 goals. He’s the top scorer in 2026.
“So he can only improve and he gives us a miles different outlet, (which is) exactly what he did when he came on (against Sunderland).”
Havertz the key to Gyokeres’ potential
CJ Needham also believes Kai Havertz could be the key to unlocking Gyokeres’ full potential going forward.
The pair have made just four appearances together this season, but the German has already provided two assists for his new teammate.
Havertz’s more direct approach has already been shown to be better suited to Gyokeres.
In contrast, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard have been criticised this season for not playing the ball to Gyokeres quickly enough.
Some fans have even accused the pair of ignoring their striker’s runs.
Needham added: “They both love playing together, Kai Havertz and Gyokeres.
“They’re a bit similar in that they’re physical, they can go long. When one drops, the other one clocks the other one’s game to go long.
“I personally think we’ve needed a bit of a switch up. I know Martin Odegaard’s had a knock and been injured, but I do think we need to be a bit more unpredictable.
“I do think we’re getting into that season when if players are in a purple patch or players do look confident, simply put you’ve got to get them in the side.”
Havertz has only recently returned to action after missing the majority of the season with a knee injury.
However, he has already set up Gyokeres to score in recent wins over Kairat and Sunderland.
The 26-year-old has also scored twice himself in his seven appearances across all competitions this term.
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