A 12 months in the past, Arsenal’s want for a brand new striker was exacerbated by accidents to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
A 12 months on, each forwards are again in competition for a beginning spot for the Gunners, however they in all probability nonetheless want a striker.
Jesus scored his fourth aim within the win over Aston Villa on Tuesday night time, his first aim again from a extreme anterior cruciate ligament damage, however Victor Goqueres continues to battle.
He could have scored a penalty within the 1-0 win over Everton earlier than Christmas, however he hasn’t scored a non-penalty aim since scoring a header towards Burnley on November 1.
It is protected to say that his efficiency is changing into more and more regarding.
How did Gokeres carry out towards Aston Villa?
In idea, this was recreation for Gokeres. For many of his Arsenal profession, the Swede needed to play towards deep blocks.
That does not swimsuit his adventurous, fast type of play. He has no room for something. Nonetheless, it appeared like recreation for Villa, who performed larger and moved in direction of the opponent.
Gökeres managed to get three photographs, particularly a header extensive of the goal within the first half, however he continues to shine in a largely unknown recreation.
He had simply 16 touches on the ball towards the Villains, made simply three correct passes, and received simply one in every of his seven encounters. Whereas it was actually an improved efficiency from what we have seen in latest weeks by way of shot manufacturing, it was one more recreation through which he failed to search out the again of the web.
Gokeres vs Aston Villa | |
|---|---|
Play time (minutes) | 77 |
contact | 16 |
actual path | 3/6 (60%) |
shot | 3 |
shot on the right track | 0 |
missed a giant alternative | 1 |
lack of possession | 6 instances |
key cross | 0 |
Gained a floor duel | 1/6 |
received an aerial battle | 0/1 |
Statistics by Sofascore. | |
The very fact is that Arsenal paid Sporting some huge cash for the Jokers to attain objectives. He would not do that usually sufficient.
When the previous Coventry Metropolis man arrived, it was thought he could be the participant to guide Arsenal to the title. He would possibly nonetheless do it, however the early indicators are horrible. The truth that Jesus was on the pitch for only a second and instantly discovered the again of the web stated all of it.
He’s actually the higher possibility in the meanwhile and it will not be lengthy earlier than Havertz leapfrogs the highest of the pecking order he entered in the summertime.
Why Kai Havertz continues to be the principle man
It is humorous how issues change so shortly in soccer. As we enter 2024, discussions about Havertz are heating up.
Like Gokeres, he too was branded a failure. Why on earth did the Gunners pay £65m to signal him from Chelsea? Properly, that shortly turned clear as 2024 progressed.
Though he was initially signed as a central midfielder, it was his function as centre-forward that impressed the supporters contained in the Emirates Stadium. His journey at Arsenal is eerily much like Mikel Merino’s.
As a striker, the massive German was elegant. Within the 2023/24 season, he performed 33 video games as a midfielder and solely scored six instances, however when he was in cost he scored eight objectives and offered eight assists in 18 video games. 9 of his 14 objectives on the season got here after February.
The proof is that there’s nonetheless hope for Gokeres. Nonetheless, in Havertz we have now somebody who not solely matches the system, but in addition crucially energizes Arsenal. His return from damage is well timed as he enters a busy interval this season.
The crew will not be used to having strikers operating in on the again and might want to adapt extra to Gokeres’ type of play, however it’s a testomony to the truth that a few of Arsenal’s greatest performances this season have come when gamers of Havertz’s caliber have been main the way in which up entrance in Merino.
The Spaniard was chosen because the No. 9 shirt for the thrilling wins over Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur inside days.
The Germany worldwide will not be but prepared to start out, however his return to the bench towards Villa on Tuesday night time was a really welcome sight. His numerous qualities can be big for Arteta and the crew all through the second half of this season.
The abstract from England supervisor Thomas Tuchel, who managed him at Chelsea, says quite a bit.
“I take a look at gamers a little bit bit like Dennis Bergkamp, Robin van Persie,[Dimitar]Berbatov. He can play in a half place as a result of he has good operating energy, however I really feel like he is free from the 9 and he can play on one aspect. He can even convey an overload. After I noticed him at Leverkusen, I did not assume I’d coach him. After I noticed him at Paris (Saint-Germain), they performed him within the 9 and it was very attention-grabbing.
He isn’t alone in making such comparisons. Former Arsenal participant Paul Merson described himself at one stage as “a Bergkamp form of participant”.
He could not have the technical grace of the nice Dutchman, however you’ll be able to see the place Tuchel and Merson are coming from. Like Bergkamp, he’s a selfless particular person, somebody who can’t solely rating but in addition lead others into performs.
It can take Havertz some time to rise up to hurry, but when he can do it shortly it may very well be the tip for Gokeres in an Arsenal shirt.
