'Oh my gosh' - Sky Sports pundits in hysterics at Viktor Gyokeres nightmare vs Leeds United
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(Credit: Sky Sports)
Ben Palmer
Sat 23 August 2025 18:26, UK
Viktor Gyokeres’ calamitous moment for Arsenal against Leeds United embodied the striker’s difficult start to life in North London.
The striker position has been an issue for several years at the Emirates, with Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino becoming Mikel Arteta’s primary options last season.
However, after finishing 10 points behind Liverpool in the title race, the Gunners looked at several options this summer in a bid to address the issue.
Arsenal eventually settled on signing Gyokeres after the Sweden international scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting CP.
The former Coventry City man was seen as the ideal option to add a finishing touch to the Gunners’ creative but often indecisive attack.
But after failing to register a shot on target on his debut in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Man United, Gyokeres once again failed to cover himself in glory.
Viktor Gyokeres has made a slow start to life at Arsenal.
(Credit: Imago)
With 15 minutes gone and Leeds seemingly doing their best to self-destruct by playing out of the back, Arsenal’s new signing Martin Zubimendi dispossessed Anton Stach.
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The summer signing from Real Sociedad played Gyokeres in, but with little pressure on him, the 27-year-old made the inexplicable decision to slide at the ball under no pressure at all.
With plenty of time to take a touch and get a shot away, the puzzling choice to lash at the ball created a commotion in the Sky Sports Soccer Saturday studio.
Martin Zubimendi also joined Arsenal this summer.
(Credit Hasan Karin, Breaking Media)
Former Tottenham man Michael Dawson was left gawping whilst ex-Rangers striker Kris Boyd laughed and exclaimed: “Oh my gosh.”
Meanwhile, former Arsenal star Paul Merson had his hands on his head and said (23 August, 5.45 pm): “They try to play out, it gets intercepted, comes to [Gyokeres] in between the six-yard box and the penalty spot.
“He can take a touch, take is time and roll it into the net.
One of them.
“He needs to score quickly.”
Arsenal did take the lead against Leeds through a Jurrien Timber header, before Bukayo Saka blasted home from close range to make it 2-0.
Football Insider Verdict
Gyokeres’ strange decision to hack at a ball in the box with all the time in the world speaks to his lack of confidence in Arsenal’s side.
The Swedish striker played in a very different system in Portugal and was the focal point with two attacking midfielders behind him, and plenty of wide runners.
Arsenal, meanwhile, leave their striker far more isolated, with the wingers hugging the touchline.
Gyokeres will need time to adapt to the Gunners’ system as Arteta places much more onus on his forward being an occupier of space, rather than the man that the set-up is built around.
But once he finds his feet and understands the way Arsenal’s other attacking players operate, it will be no surprise to see the former Brighton striker replicate the goal-scoring form that made him so sought after this summer.
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