William Gallas has urged Arsenal to change their playing style to get the best out of Viktor Gyokeres. He also urged them to replace Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard in the summer.
The Gunners signed Gyokeres from Sporting CP for €73 million, including add-ons, last summer. He has scored 17 goals and provided two assists in 43 games across competitions. He has faced criticism for his output and his general performances.
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Gallas, however, believes Gyokeres can score 20 goals if the north London side makes some adjustments. He told BoyleSports (h/t Metro):
“Gyokeres has scored goals but he hasn’t scored enough goals so he has to reach a minimum 20 goals next season and it will be difficult for him if Arsenal are going to play the same way because he doesn’t really dominate the league physically like he did in Portugal.”
“Maybe you need a left winger because I don’t know what has happened to Gabriel Martinelli, he’s just not what he was, and Leandro Trossard is a good squad player but you need something else.”
Gallas said that between Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola, he would choose the latter for the Gunners. He added:
“When you’ve got a striker like Gyokeres, you need players to give him the ball to score the goals, and that’s why maybe some of Arsenal’s style has to change, or they need to change their striker.”
Barcola has scored 12 goals and provided six assists in 38 games across competitions for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) this season.
William Gallas explains why Viktor Gyokeres struggles in Arsenal’s current system
The former Chelsea defender rued the lack of service for Gyokeres in the Gunners’ current system. He said that despite the Swede demanding the ball, he doesn’t often get it as the midfielders look to recycle possession.
Gallas said:
“When Arsenal play on the counter-attack, I think sometimes the midfielders have to look for Viktor Gyokeres to give him the ball at the first opportunity. Gyokeres always asks for the ball in front, in the space, but he doesn’t get the ball, because the midfielder wants to keep the ball. That is the style of Arsenal.”
Gyokeres has started 33 games across competitions for the Gunners this season, amidst competition from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. He scored in their last game against Southampton away, but they lost 2-1 to get eliminated from the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Edited by Aditya Singh
