Victor Gokeres is the old-school centre-forward that Arsenal have needed for a long time, and while he hasn’t really hit the ground running yet, Arsenal fans have seen everything they need.
Victor Gokeres has won the hearts of Arsenal’s fan base. It’s easy to see why.
He is very dedicated, very determined and gives absolutely everything on the pitch. That is why he has quickly become a firm favorite among supporters, and why he appears to be more popular than rivals such as Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and even Mikel Merino.
Gokeres becomes Arsenal’s new No. 9 and was signed for £64m after an incredibly prolific two years at Sporting Lisbon, where he scored a ton of goals. Some would argue that goals, or lack thereof, are his biggest weakness, as he has only scored six times since joining in the summer.
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But Gokeres is popular because he’s more of an old-school centre-forward. It’s powerful, it’s a battering ram, and it’s determined to bite back. His mindset is incredible and unbreakable.
I admit that I didn’t always understand it myself. But when I talk to fans who go to games, and I always do, they love him and chant his name for what he brings to the party.
He works hard, presses and chases down opposition defenders. Yes, that’s the bare minimum you would expect. But he offers something a little different to Arsenal. And he loves to score goals and enjoy chances in the penalty area.
Gökeres was sidelined for some time due to a hamstring problem, but he made an impact after joining Chelsea. He slipped in to Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez and had the right to do so even if he was named for a challenge. It was a loose ball. he is hungry
If a late cross from Pierrot Hincapie had reached him instead of Julian Timber actively participating, he would have backed him up and scored the goal. That’s what people believe in him as a goalscorer.
If he starts against Brentford on Wednesday night, he will create a buzz there.
This is not to say Havertz isn’t a great option. In fact, Havertz is silky, classy and has great ball retention, so it’s a sure bet he’ll be selected for certain games. He’s more of a footballer and Mikel Arteta loves his game intelligence.
It’s very unfortunate that he has been suffering from injuries. And Arsenal fans have almost forgotten about him.
Jesus also returned from a long-term knee injury and was available. Now the noise about him is very good. That he’s hungry, he’s very healthy, and he’s really determined. He’s a very good player. Great dribbler. Amazing technique. He was doing well when he got injured, but now people are realizing that the layoff has probably made him even more determined and fired up.
He scored in a closed-doors game against Watford last week. Don’t ignore him. He’ll have something to offer this season.
Last is merino. Who could forget him? He has been in sensational form this season, scoring big goals against Chelsea and Newcastle. Only Arsenal can field three centre-forwards, and all of them have been injured for the past month. Move forward with merino.
But I think he’s even better as a goal-facing false nine or as a midfielder.
Statistics can tell you anything you want to know. And with merino you can be fooled. He brings a lot to the pitch and has a big game mentality. As a goal-scoring midfielder, he’s great.
What he cannot do as a centre-forward is bring intensity, pressing and high energy. Even when he scored twice against Slavia Prague, he didn’t have his best game. Because he’s not a center forward.
There will be games where he would be a great option as a false nine. He’s a great midfielder. And he’s a great team member. What a leader and great influence he is. But he does his job as a striker. No more.
That’s why Gokeres continues to be No. 1 for many fans. They chant his name and love him. Even if the outside world doesn’t make sense to you, it’s easy to see why. But fans are always the best barometer.
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