Arsenal’s trip to Anfield this Sunday is already shaping up to be a blockbuster, but much of the spotlight is falling on one man — Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swedish striker arrived at the Emirates with huge expectations after his summer move, yet after just one quiet game against Manchester United, he found himself on the receiving end of heavy criticism. Some questioned his sharpness, others even went as far as to doubt if he could handle the Premier League.
But former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has stepped in to defend the striker, branding the treatment of Gyokeres after that debut as “atrocious.”
“The stick that Gyokeres was getting after the first game. I mean, what?” Nicol said on the Highbury Squad YouTube channel.
“He was given absolutely no service by the rest of his team at Old Trafford and people were getting on him. I couldn’t believe how hard people were on him… so I was glad he responded against Leeds because I just thought the stick he got after the first game was atrocious.”
And respond he did. Against Leeds, Gyokeres looked every inch the player Arsenal invested in — bullying defenders, stretching the backline, and bagging a brilliant brace, including a confident penalty. Suddenly, the talk shifted from doubt to promise.
Why Gyokeres Could Be Key at Anfield
Now, the real test awaits. Arsenal haven’t won at Anfield in the Premier League since 2012, and if they are to break that hoodoo, Gyokeres will need to deliver again.
The irony? Liverpool’s style might actually play into his strengths. Arne Slot’s side will push their full-backs high, leaving gaps in behind. That’s where Gyokeres thrives — drifting wide, using his pace and power, and running straight at defenders who hate being turned. In transition, he’s lethal.
Liverpool’s defence has looked shaky when pressed on the counter, and if Arsenal can get Gyokeres the right service, he could be the difference-maker in one of the Premier League’s fiercest fixtures.
Redemption Arc Loading?
Football fans love narratives, and Gyokeres is already shaping one. From being written off after one bad game, to silencing critics against Leeds, to now potentially becoming the man who fires Arsenal to their first Anfield win in over a decade — it’s all there for him.
