The talk before the season was that Arsenal needed a 20-goal-a-season striker to win a trophy – and now they finally have one in Viktor Gyokeres.
The Sweden international has 21 in all competitions this season, after his double in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Fulham took them six points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
The 27-year-old has five goals in his past eight matches, but it hasn't always been easy for the striker.
He has been criticised for his all-round play, with questions about whether his ability to hold the ball up and link play is good enough for an Arsenal team.
Gyokeres was signed for his ability to find the net but also for the way he opens up space for the attackers around him, with one of his main attributes being his powerful running when going behind the opposition defence.
"I like his whole game, in particular his hold-up play," Wayne Rooney said on Match of the Day. "He allows the likes of Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka to get into their positions.
"I really like the positioning he takes in front of goal. Normally forwards want space in front of them in the penalty area, but he likes to get tight to his defenders to make his runs shorter."
Kai Havertz is one of Mikel Arteta's favourite players and would likely have started some of the games against the division's top sides, with Gyokeres used from the bench – like the pair were utilised in the Gunners' defeat by Manchester City last month.
But, in a season where a number of Arsenal's attackers have been unavailable due to injury, Gyokeres' robustness must be praised.
Arsenal have lost only three games with him in the starting XI and, with three league games to go, the forward's effort and eye for goal could be rewarded with the Premier League trophy.
Read Alex Howell’s full piece here
