Arsenal: Gyokeres has truly transformed

It is fair to say that the North London derby against Tottenham last weekend was Viktor Gyokeres' finest display for Arsenal. This was reflected not just in his two goals but also through encouraging data.

Before shining at Tottenham's ground, Gyokeres faced significant criticism regarding his all-around yet inefficient play as Arsenal's lead forward. Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta defended the Swedish striker as usual: "Gyokeres' overall contribution is highly commendable."

Gyokeres has improved from finishing to passing

Arsenal's £64 million signing possesses ample skill and tactical understanding required for the Premier League. The issue for the former Sporting Lisbon striker lay in a fundamental quality for a center-forward: finishing. Gyokeres' shots lacked the necessary lethality. Most of his 97 goals for Sporting Lisbon were straightforward finishes that didn't require great power. It wasn't until the recent match against Tottenham that the 27-year-old forward showed what is expected of a number nine at the Emirates. His first goal was a decisive strike from just outside the box, a space Gyokeres rarely finds as opponents often defend in numbers to stop Arsenal from scoring. His second goal was an impeccable shot into the top corner. Notably, Gyokeres scored his brace from just four shot attempts. Including the double against Tottenham, he now has 8 goals in his last 12 appearances for Arsenal across all competitions.

Beyond improving his goal-scoring, Gyokeres demonstrated effectiveness by becoming a linking hub for Arsenal's other attackers. Many have been disappointed with his ability to create space for teammates when playing with his back to goal. More than once this season, passes from the Swedish forward have led to Arsenal losing possession easily. The clearest example was the draw against Wolves last week, where Gyokeres touched the ball only 12 times and failed to win a single duel. So, how did he improve against Tottenham? He had 42 touches, more than his total from the two previous matches combined. Gyokeres attempted 18 passes with a 67% accuracy rate, higher than his season average. From the start of the season until now, he has averaged just under 7 passes per game with a 61% pass completion rate.

Improved ability in duels

Gyokeres' 1.89m height and powerful physique were expected to handle Premier League defenders with ease. However, the former Sporting Lisbon player has often struggled to hold up the ball under pressure from opponents. Prior to the North London derby against Tottenham, his duel success rate was only 31%.

At Tottenham's stadium, the Swedish forward showed a remarkable turnaround. He won five duels against Tottenham players. Gyokeres made life miserable for defender Dragusin. It was the Swedish striker who beat Dragusin before providing the assist for Eze's third goal for Arsenal. Eze was quick to praise Gyokeres' effort: "Gyokeres competed brilliantly throughout the match. You could see his effort and how he helped the whole team. It wasn't just about the goals; Gyokeres also helped players like me get into great positions." Not long after, he easily shrugged off Archie Gray's challenge before scoring Arsenal's fourth goal himself. Another notable stat for Gyokeres: he successfully regained possession four times against Tottenham, a figure only bettered by Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze.

The victory over Tottenham helps Arsenal maintain a 5-point gap over Man City, despite having played one more game than Pep Guardiola's side. Above all, Arteta is working to help Gyokeres dispel doubts about being an ineffective center-forward at the Emirates. Only goals will allow the Swedish striker to prove he is the number nine Arsenal has been waiting for to end their 22-year Premier League title drought.