Inside Viktor Gyokeres' real Arsenal struggles as teammates urged to do one thing

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Viktor Gyokeres arrived at Arsenal with the reputation of being one of Europe's most prolific strikers, having terrorised Portuguese defences at Sporting Clube de Portugal. His form there earned him a £63 million move to north London in the summer , following plenty of drama between the striker and his the Portuguese giants.

However, his start in an Arsenal shirt has been noticeably slower than he would have hoped, with the goals and explosive performances that defined his time in Portugal yet to fully translate to the Premier League. Gyokeres finished last season as Europe's most prolific striker, scoring 63 goals in 58 appearances across the Liga Portugal, Champions League and domestic cup competitions.

This campaign, he has scored five goals in 15 Premier League matches, and his early struggles have sparked debate among pundits . Mikel Arteta has repeatedly come out in his defence .

From adapting to the pace and physicality of the Premier League to adjusting to the tactical demands of Arsenal’s fluid attacking structure, Gyokeres' early months in England have been shaped by a number of new challenges. Portuguese journalist Miguel Costa, who covered his breakout season in Lisbon, has spoken exclusively to Mirror Football about the striker.

"When he joined Sporting, there were a lot of questions about his ability to make an impact in Portugal," Costa said, with Gyokeres ultimately proving the critics wrong. "The price that Sporting paid €24million (£21m) fuelled further uncertainty amongst fans but he turned the game around and gave the club an unimaginable return, both on and off the pitch.

"[In England], I believe pre-season was the primary factor in his initial difficulties .Having not had that preparation with the rest of the players clearly hampered his initial adaptation. We can see he has struggled to adapt to his teammates and quickly achieve a competitive rhythm in a league completely different from the Portuguese one, where the collective weakness of the teams is greater than in the Premier League."

Costa also highlighted the steep learning curve Gyokeres faces on English soil, explaining: "The Premier League is the best league in the world where there is a more physical demand which is evident in every match. There is a very high technical dimension that Gyokeres does not fully master and he needs to improve in this aspect, both in terms of combination with teammates and dribbling in tight spaces.

"Plus, Arsenal's style of play does not favour Gyokeres the same way it did at Sporting. The Gunners play mostly with the ball and in positional attack, which does not allow the Swede to explore speed, which is the main characteristic of his game. Technically, he's a player less evolved and without space - not having the same impact that he did in Portugal."

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Arsenal's fluid attack relies on quick passing and aggressive pressing, which Costa has suggested lies at the heart of Gyokeres' early issues. "In Portugal, there was considerable discussion about Gyokeres' suitability for Arsenal's model, for that same reason," he remarked.

"In terms of pressing, the Swedish striker offers guarantees, but the rapid passing game makes his adaptation difficult and, consequently, hinders the fluidity of the team's attacks. I think he will hardly fit in 'naturally' as Mikel Arteta has his own very defined game model and will not change it.

"I believe the change will have to come from the player, through hard work in training, and it will be a process that will require time."

Costa has also suggested that the 27‑year‑old is not getting enough support from his teammates to score goals and that they have a part to play in improving his output. "[Although], it will be difficult to receive [assistance] that frequently, especially in a Premier League context, where Arsenal are almost always the dominant team, [they can] explore Gyokeres' counter-attacks and inside-out movements more," he observed.

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"However, in the Champions League , Gyokeres can make the difference, as he will find opponents who also like to take the initiative, such as Barcelona , Real Madrid or PSG , offering more space for quick attacks and transitions.

In 'open' games, he can make the difference coming off the bench, where his speed and strength can be decisive. At Sporting, his teammates knew that it was in those moments that the Swedish forward made the difference. A large part of his goals in Portugal came through runs, in quick attacks, especially from the left to the middle."

With that said, his competitor Gabriel Jesus has returned from injury in excellent form and could become a genuine threat to the Swede as he looks to rediscover his best level. However, Costa believes there is a key characteristic in Gyokeres' game that still puts him ahead of the Brazilian.

"Yes, potentially [a threat] - given his profile. The Brazilian is a more associative player and fits perfectly into what Arteta wants," he claimed.

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"But Gyokeres' physical attributes put him ahead of his teammate in certain competitive contexts, though patience is fundamental [in his current circumstance].

Given Arsenal's title ambitions this season and the need for Gyokeres to hit the ground running, Arteta's reputation for perseverance with his players suggests that the striker, who has already proven his quality in the past, will be a case worth fighting for and could bring long‑term success to the Gunners.

"The first season is always more complicated at all levels, but I am optimistic about the next season for the former Sporting striker, who already has better chemistry with the team," Costa outlined.

"He was, without a doubt, one of the best strikers ever to play in Portuguese football: 102 games, 97 goals and 27 assists. Stratospheric numbers."

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