Arsenal's Underestimated Corner Kick Advantage Clinches Victory while New Signing, Viktor Gyökeres, Plunges into Deceptive Calm at Old Trafford
In an unpredictable turn of events, Arsenal carved out a slight 1-0 victory over Manchester United, courtesy of an underappreciated strength, their set-piece expertise. A goalkeeping blunder at the 13th minute from a corner offered a golden chance which was seized by the unlikely hero, defender Riccardo Calafiori. Arsenal's success with corners is no secret, having amassed 31 league goals from such situations since the 2023-24 season. (https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/arsenal-capitalise-keeper-error-secure-1-0-win-man-united-2025-08-17/?utm_source=openai" alt="https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/arsenal-capitalise-keeper-error-secure-1-0-win-man-united-2025-08-17/?utm_source=openai" target="_blank">reuters.com)
Amid the victory, everybody's gaze was fixed on a silent protagonist, Arsenal's much-anticipated new striker, Viktor Gyökeres. Signed for a hefty fee from Sporting CP, Gyökeres was expected to herald a new era of attacking prowess for the Gunners. However, to everyone's surprise, his Premier League debut was eerily calm with a distinctive lack of goal-scoring opportunities. Gyökeres did not unleash a single shot during the entire game, a fact quickly noted and underscored by Arsenal's skipper, Mikel Arteta. (https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arteta-arsenal-fc-gyokeres-debut-b1243346.html?utm_source=openai" alt="https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arteta-arsenal-fc-gyokeres-debut-b1243346.html?utm_source=openai" target="_blank">standard.co.uk)
Arteta didn't hold back in acknowledging the underutilisation of Gyökeres, openly admitting, "We did not manage to put the ball through to exploit his quality." This candid revelation raises pressing questions about Arsenal's match tactics and their preparedness to assimilate and build around a player of Gyökeres' stature. (https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arteta-arsenal-fc-gyokeres-debut-b1243346.html?utm_source=openai" alt="https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arteta-arsenal-fc-gyokeres-debut-b1243346.html?utm_source=openai" target="_blank">standard.co.uk)
Having netted an astounding 68 goals in 66 appearances during his stay at Sporting CP (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Gy%C3%B6keres?utm_source=openai" alt="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Gy%C3%B6keres?utm_source=openai" target="_blank">en.wikipedia.org), Gyökeres has already proven his goal-scoring mettle. His brand of physicality, speed, and pressing prowess manifests a formidable force on the field, qualities that were notably absent from his Old Trafford debut.
The conundrum, it seems, is rooted in Arsenal's way of footballing. A possession-oriented team, the Gunners have historically thrived on intricate build-up play and exploiting spaces with quick, short passes. Gyökeres, on the other hand, flourishes in systems where he's given liberty to exploit space behind defenders, utilising his burst of acceleration and sheer strength. This glaring imbalance was evident as Arsenal noticeably struggled to offer the right service for their Swedish powerhouse.
Reminiscing his on-field battle experiences, ex-Manchester United midfielder, Paul Scholes cast doubts over Gyökeres' fit in Arsenal's system. He suggested that Gyökeres' success at Sporting CP was largely a consequence of their counter-attacking style, vastly different from Arsenal's possession-first philosophy. (https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/premier-league/articles/manchester-united-legend-says-gy-keres-is-not-the-striker-arteta-and-arsenal-were-hoping-for-2025-08-06?utm_source=openai" alt="https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/premier-league/articles/manchester-united-legend-says-gy-keres-is-not-the-striker-arteta-and-arsenal-were-hoping-for-2025-08-06?utm_source=openai" target="_blank">beinsports.com)
The task for Arteta and his tactical team is laid bare: adjust the team's approach to accentuate Gyökeres' strengths or prepare for the risk of squandering their significant investment. This tricky balancing act might call for a more direct style of play, urging the midfield to feed early balls into space, and tweaking their pressing triggers to instigate turnovers higher up the field.
The onus is clear, and so are the stakes. The drive for Premier League supremacy hangs not only on the team's defensive robustness and set-piece efficacy but also hinges on unlocking the full potential of their attacking assets. Gyökeres possesses the makings of a game-changer but can only succeed if the system adapts to give him the stage to perform.
As the season unfolds, fans and pundits alike will keenly observe how Arsenal evolves, tactically, to accommodate Gyökeres. The conundrum persists - will Arteta tweak the system to amplify their new striker's strengths, or will they adhere to a style that might not fully utilise his firepower? The resolution to these questions could very well sculpt Arsenal's campaign and decide whether their significant bet on Gyökeres will pay off as envisioned.
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