Former England striker and prominent pundit Gary Lineker has identified a crucial flaw in the game of Arsenal's summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, suggesting it is the primary reason for the Swede's underwhelming start to life in the Premier League.
The High-Priced Gamble That Isn't Gambling
Arsenal invested a significant £55 million to secure Gyokeres from Sporting CP in the summer of 2025, following his prolific spell in Portugal. However, the 27-year-old has found replicating that form in England a challenge, managing just five goals in his first 16 Premier League appearances for the Gunners.
Analysing the striker's performances, Lineker believes the issue is rooted in Gyokeres's approach inside the penalty area. Speaking on the podcast The Rest Is Football, the Match of the Day presenter argued that the forward is being too reactive, akin to a defender, rather than proactively anticipating where the ball will end up.
Lineker's Diagnosis: A Lesson from Calvert-Lewin
"I've watched him quite closely the last few weeks and I think he's like most strikers - he waits to see where the ball’s going, waits until it's crossed and then attacks the space," Lineker said. "That's what defenders do. As a striker you got to gamble on where you think the ball might go and you go just as they're about to cross it."
Lineker highlighted the in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a perfect contemporary example. The Leeds United striker, who has scored in six consecutive matches, demonstrated the art of the gamble in a recent goal against Sunderland. "He didn't wait and see where it was going to go," Lineker explained. "He went right, pulled away and then he sprinted at the near post and hoped that the ball would be delivered there and it was."
Can Gyokeres Learn from the Elite?
The pundit contrasted Gyokeres's current movement with that of the world's most prolific goalscorers, stating he doesn't see the same instinctive runs from the Arsenal man. "The players that score big numbers will do that. (Erling) Haaland, (Harry) Kane, (Robert) Lewandowski, they know how to make those kind of moves into those spaces," Lineker added.
However, he offered a glimmer of hope for the striker and Mikel Arteta's coaching staff, suggesting this is a skill that can be acquired. "Is it something you can learn? I've always thought yes, but because it's actually common sense because it's law of probability when you think about it," Lineker concluded.
The analysis places the spotlight firmly on Gyokeres to adapt his game. With Arsenal's title ambitions often resting on a reliable source of goals, the Swede's ability to start gambling in the box could be the key to unlocking his potential and justifying his substantial transfer fee.
