Robbie Mustoe believes one of Arsenal’s summer signings has started in a way that suggests he’ll be the difference for Mikel Arteta’s team this season.
Arsenal saw off Nottingham Forest at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon, courtesy of a brace from Martin Zubimendi and a strike from Viktor Gyokeres.
The result sees the Gunners move up to second after four matches, although they remain three points behind leaders Liverpool.
Andrea Berta spent over £250 million in the transfer window, in an attempt to bolster Arteta’s squad to a level where it can compete on multiple fronts, and a few of the new additions are already making a significant impact.
Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty ImagesRobbie Mustoe says Viktor Gyokeres is ‘on his way’ to winning Arsenal the Premier League
Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres for £63 million in the summer.
The Swede was brought in to score goals for the Gunners, after Arteta’s team found the back of the net 17 times fewer than Liverpool last term.
Already scoring three times this season, Gyokeres has had a positive start on this front, and looks on course to aid the North Londoners in reducing this gap with the Merseysiders.
Mustoe claimed before the season that if the 27-year-old scores 20 Premier League goals this campaign, then Arsenal will win the title, and believes that the start he’s made suggests he’ll do so.
“Those numbers, he’s going to rack up the numbers,” Mustoe said on the 2 Robbies Podcast.
“20 goals, they win the league, is my comment at the start of the season, and he’s on his way to getting his 20 goals.”
The next step for Gyokeres is to start producing against the better teams in the English top flight, with all three of his strikes thus far coming against lesser opposition at home.
Arteta will also hope that his new number nine can develop his all-round game more as he grows in this Arsenal team, with his contributions outside of the box somewhat minimal thus far.
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty ImagesArsenal’s other forwards must start chipping in with goals
While Gyokeres finding his feet in front of goal is positive, other attacking players will also need to score goals this season if Arsenal are to be successful.
Other than Bukayo Saka, who scored against Leeds, no other forward in Arteta’s squad has found the back of the net yet this season.
The likes of Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz will have to chip in in the final third, while even squad players like Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard will need to contribute a little in this regard.
Otherwise, Arsenal risk becoming overly reliant on Gyokeres and his goalscoring, which could be detrimental if the Swede sustains an injury.
However, at the moment, this lack of diversity of goalscorers won’t be a huge concern for Arteta as his players grow into the season.