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

Emmanuel Petit says Arsenal may need to return to a ‘fast-paced, counter-attacking style’ if they are to get the 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 worth up to £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 size of the fee means there have already been high levels on scrutiny on Gyokeres’ performances and the Swede endured a difficult start to his Premier League career in Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat of Manchester United.

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

After Arsenal’s win, Gyokeres insisted he was always confident the goals would come ‘sooner or later’ while he was getting settled into a new league.

He told Sky Sports: ‘There is always pressure but I know I will take my chances sooner or later and today I took two of them and we won 5-0 so it was a great day.

‘It was a short pre-season for me and not too many weeks training.

‘Then, of course, I didn’t play any 90 minutes during the pre-season so it was important for me to get 90 minutes and get the rhythm and to get to know the team even more during this game.

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

Explaining his first goal, Gyokeres added: ‘I think I’m comfortable when the ball is coming in behind, especially on the left, and then cutting inside, I know I will take the chance when I have it like that.

‘It was a nice goal to start off with.

‘We have so many amazing players going forward and I think, for me, it’s just important to be in the right place and doing the movements that I’ll do.

‘I think I will get a lot of chances during the season.’

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

The Frenchman also suggested that Arteta may need to reassess how his team plays if he is to create the perfect environment for his new centre-forward.

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

‘Looking at the schedule, they’ll soon be facing the big teams in the Premier League. The start will be key for the rest of the season.

‘New signings like Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi still have to adapt to Arteta’s style. Gyokeres, for example, prefers to run into space behind defenders, while Arsenal tend to rely on possession.

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

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

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

According to Petit, Arteta’s first-team squad is still 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.

‘A lack of rotation has been their biggest problem in recent years, especially when injuries mount in the second half of the season.

‘If things remain as they are, Arsenal can compete until the end, provided they’re not plagued by injuries.

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

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

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