Viktor Gyokeres may have just been given the perfect chance to fix his form

Arsenal’s top goalscorer last season is having a really difficult start to this campaign.

Having played just 207 minutes across all competitions, Viktor Gyokeres is yet to register a goal or an assist. But it’s his all-round performances that are a greater cause for concern. Italian media rated him as Arsenal’s worst player against Napoli, where he had just nine touches during the 73 minutes he played.

It’s looking like a swift fall from grace after scoring 21 goals for the Gunners last season. But with Kai Havertz potentially injured after he went off with a hamstring issue for Germany, Mikel Arteta has a huge decision to make. And Arsenal’s first game back after the international break might just be the perfect opportunity to get Gyokeres up and running again.

Viktor Gyokeres has a strong record against Leeds

Gyokeres happens to have a very favourable record against Leeds United. He has scored three goals against them, making the Yorkshire side his most productive Premier League opposition.

The Arsenal striker made his home debut against them last season, scoring a brace in a 5-0 thrashing at the Emirates. Before tucking away a penalty, he scored a wonderful solo goal that we really haven’t seen enough of since. He also scored in the return fixture in January when he fought to get on the end of Gabriel Martinelli’s inviting cross in a 4-0 win at Elland Road.

Much has been made of Gyokeres’ dismal performances this season but he is clearly a player low on confidence right now. The international break could turn out to be exactly what he needed, and Arteta will be hoping he can regain his form with Sweden and bring it back with him to North London.

He is the obvious solution to play up front in Havertz’s absence, but Arteta might well be tempted to revert to his trusted soldier in Mikel Merino, who himself has a strong case to start through the middle. But if the Arsenal boss decides to give Gyokeres his chance against Leeds, he couldn’t have picked a better opponent for him to get his season up and running.