Arsenal’s clash with Fulham was not their most free-flowing of victories but it mattered not. Sometimes you just need to find a way and the Gunners did just that at Craven Cottage.
Fulham’s low-block stifled Mikel Arteta’s men so they turned to their old solution and trusted friend; a set-piece.
It was the classic combination. Bukayo Saka’s inswinging delivery was met by Gabriel but it wasn’t the Brazilian finding the net on this occasion.
His header was glanced on towards Leandro Trossard who was left with a simple finish at the back post.
Arsenal are the set-piece kings and if they go on to win the Premier League title next May, few will have many complaints about that.
However, they do need to find a way to generate more chances for a certain Viktor Gyokeres whose goalless run goes on.
Viktor Gyokeres' performance in numbers vs Fulham
Speaking after the game at the Cottage, Arteta said of his striker: “He was very close today again, two or three times. We were all begging for him to score. The work rate he puts in for the team is phenomenal.”
It’s a fair assessment. During the last month or so, Gyokeres has been improving. He’s running the channels relentlessly, holding the back up with more consistency each game and the chemistry between him and his teammates is improving.
However, Arsenal brought the hulking Swede to score goals. They need goals. No Arsenal player scored double figures in the league last season for the first time since 1923/24.
Arteta’s side may well be top of the table after two months of the campaign but the simple fact of the matter is that Gyokeres needs to start finding the net.
Things started in a positive fashion for the big-money striker. He netted a fine header against Athletic Club in pre-season before bagging twice against Leeds and scoring versus Nottingham Forest.
Yet, that goal against the Tricky Trees – still managed by Nuno Santo at the time – came all the way back on the 13th September. Since then, he has gone nine goals for club and country without scoring.
It’s worrying, for sure. His performance against Fulham was indicative of the struggles he has encountered since returning to England.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
He finds life difficult against low blocks and to be fair, so do a lot of strikers. He’s simply not got the room to run in behind. We saw first-hand the devastation he can cause against Olympiacos in the Champions League when he was afforded space.
That’s not to say he performed badly on Saturday afternoon, though. As Arteta references, Gyokeres did have one or two chances.
Minutes played
96
Shots
3
Shots on target
2
Expected goals (xG)
0.40
Touches
20
Possession lost
8
Ground duels won
3/4
Aerial duels won
1/3
His numbers from the game told the story of his season to date. Physically, he is imperious. Gyokeres certainly won his fair share of duels at Craven Cottage.
Two shots on target is also encouraging but, lest we forget, this is a man who scored 54 times for Sporting in 2024/25.
While there were no expectations he would do the same in the Premier League, it is a worry now that this goal drought is only prolonging.
So, what’s the solution?
Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres solution
Earlier in the week, it was reported that Arsenal staff had been left blown away by Kai Havertz’s approach to rehab.
The German picked up a problem during the opening weeks of the season and still isn’t due back for a number of weeks now. However, there is a sense that he could return earlier than anticipated.
That will hardly be music to the ears of Gyokeres. After all, there is a feeling that Havertz could walk straight back into this team if the Swede continues to misfire.
But, what about in the interim? Well, there are two solutions. One is to bring Mikel Merino back into the fray. The Spaniard is certainly in form, notably scoring twice during Spain’s win over Bulgaria in the recent international break.
For context, only Erling Haaland has scored a higher percentage of his nation’s goals during World Cup qualifying.
The other solution would be to unleash Trossard as the central striker. The Belgian has attracted his fair share of criticism over the last year but he is also a man in decent form, certainly better than Gyokeres anyway.
While the former Brighton man is often seen as somebody who is better as an impact player off the bench, he has issued a timely reminder in recent weeks of why he’s such a valued squad member.
He’s started to make a habit of being an away specialist, scoring and assisting in Bilbao in the Champions League, netting against Port Vale and finding the net this weekend.
Trossard’s finish was a simple one, it must be said, and he did endure a quiet first half, but he’s a reliable figure who pops up in clutch moments.
As Ian Wright once said too, he’s “the best finisher” at the club. Bold words but it’s easy to see why he’s said that. Whether it’s on his right foot or left foot, the Belgium international is usually reliable.
He may not be the same stature as Havertz or Gyokeres but against low blocks, the 30-year-old’s intricacy and close control could be exactly what Arsenal need to open up a defence.