Arsenal signing doesn’t suit Mikel Arteta’s current playing style, says Emmanuel Petit | Football

Emmanuel Petit says Arsenal may have to return to a ‘fast-paced, counter-attacking style’ in the event that they are to get the very best out of marquee summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.

Arsenal put an end to weeks of rumour and speculation by announcing the arrival of Gyokeres from Sporting last month, in a deal price as much as £64million.

Gyokeres enjoyed major success across his two-year spell in Portuguese football and his extraordinary goalscoring exploits helped steer Sporting to a domestic double last season.

The dimensions of the fee means there have already been high levels on scrutiny on Gyokeres’ performances and the Swede endured a difficult begin to his Premier League profession in Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat of Manchester United.

But Gyokeres silenced his doubters with a second-half brace within the Gunners’ rampant 5-0 victory over Leeds last weekend and the striker will likely be hoping to select up where he left off away to champions Liverpool on Sunday.

After Arsenal’s win, Gyokeres insisted he was all the time confident the goals would come ‘ultimately’ while he was getting settled right into a recent league.

He told Sky Sports: ‘There’s all the time pressure but I do know I’ll take my possibilities ultimately and today I took two of them and we won 5-0 so it was a fantastic day.

‘It was a brief pre-season for me and never too many weeks training.

‘Then, after all, I didn’t play any 90 minutes throughout the pre-season so it was essential for me to get 90 minutes and get the rhythm and to get to know the team much more during this game.

‘I felt more comfortable today in how we’re playing and I feel you may see that as well.’

Explaining his first goal, Gyokeres added: ‘I feel I’m comfortable when the ball is coming in behind, especially on the left, after which cutting inside, I do know I’ll take the prospect when I even have it like that.

‘It was a pleasant goal to start out off with.

‘We’ve got so many amazing players going forward and I feel, for me, it’s just essential to be in the correct place and doing the movements that I’ll do.

‘I feel I’ll get a variety of possibilities throughout the season.’

In an interview with AS, former Arsenal midfielder Petit insisted Gyokeres alone was wouldn’t be the ‘solution’ for the club of their hunt for the Premier League title.

The Frenchman also suggested that Arteta may have to reassess how his team plays if he’s to create the proper environment for his recent centre-forward.

Asked if Arsenal are able to winning the Premier League title this term, Petit replied: ‘They won against Manchester United in an unsightly match, but they got the three points. Manchester United actually played well.

‘ the schedule, they’ll soon be facing the large teams within the Premier League. The beginning will likely be key for the remainder of the season.

‘Recent signings like Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi still must adapt to Arteta’s style. Gyokeres, for instance, prefers to run into space behind defenders, while Arsenal are likely to depend on possession.

‘Perhaps they should get back to the fast-paced, counter-attacking style they practiced two years ago to get probably the most out of it. Each he and the team need to satisfy halfway.

‘Too often, wingers drop deep, leaving the pitch empty, making it difficult for Gyokeres to seek out space. So he, alone, isn’t the answer.

‘If Arsenal quickly find the balance between his qualities and his sort of play, they’ll be in contention.’

In response to Petit, Arteta’s first-team squad remains to be lacking strength in depth, despite the club making seven signings across a busy transfer window this summer.

‘They’re still missing one or two players,’ the 1998 World Cup winner went on.

‘An absence of rotation has been their biggest problem lately, especially when injuries mount within the second half of the season.

‘If things remain as they’re, Arsenal can compete until the top, provided they’re not affected by injuries.

‘But it’ll be very difficult, and I’m not convinced anyway.

‘They’ve replaced those that left, but they still lack real depth.’

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