A pair of Gyokeres goals, everything Arsenal needed

LONDON, SATURDAY — The figure of the "killer" that Arsenal has longed for at the Emirates Stadium has finally emerged in the form of new striker Viktor Gyokeres. With a contribution of a pair of goals in his home debut, Gyokeres is beginning to provide an answer to the complex issues faced by "The Gunners" last season.

Arsenal fans finally got to witness Gyokeres's "mask" celebration at the Emirates on Sunday (August 24, 2025) WIB. The striker performed the celebration twice after scoring a brace in Arsenal's 5-0 victory over newly promoted Leeds United.

Gyokeres scored a brace after half-time. His first Premier League goal came from an individual effort after beating the offside trap. He sealed the win in injury time with a penalty. The penalty was won by 15-year-old Max Dowman, who made his debut in the second half.

The burden on Gyokeres's shoulders has begun to lift. He still appeared stiff and emotional during the first goal. In the celebration of the second goal, the 27-year-old player started to smile broadly while fixing his hair in front of the camera. It was as if he was responding to critics who had previously scolded him for his lack of contribution in the first match.

"There is always pressure. I know that sooner or later I will take the opportunity (to score a goal). Today I took two opportunities and we won 5-0," said Gyokeres. "Maybe, yes," he continued when asked about whether the celebration of fixing his hair was a response to the attacks on social media.

Gyokeres' two goals were crucial for Arsenal's victory, especially the first goal in the 48th minute. This contribution allowed "The Gunners" to take a three-goal lead at the beginning of the second half. Gyokeres dashed the visitors' hopes of making a comeback. Leeds, who entered the field with high motivation from the dressing room, found themselves in despair again after conceding the third goal.

The figure of the "killer" that Arsenal lacked at the Emirates throughout last season. They were deficient in explosive power in the attacking line. The team, managed by Mikel Arteta, too often lost points due to their inability to score a second or third goal. As a result, opposing teams were able to equalize the match and reverse the momentum of the game.

Arsenal failed to win 8 out of 19 home matches last season. Half of the points lost occurred after Martin Odegaard and his teammates took the lead. As a result of this problem, they only garnered 39 points at the Emirates. This point total is the lowest among the top six teams, except for Newcastle United (38).

"The Cannons" need to score more points at home if they want to win the title. According to Opta, the average home points tally for champions over the last ten seasons is 48.5. For Arsenal, the best way to increase their points tally is to score more goals. They have been noticeably lacking in prowess, having only managed 35 goals.

That hope is placed on Gyokeres, a pure striker who has finally been acquired by the Arsenal squad. The striker began to appear as a solution in his second match. However, Gyokeres still needs to prove his consistency. He and the other Arsenal players are still adapting to each other's playing styles.

Arteta stated that Gyokeres will certainly help the team evolve to become better, especially in the attacking line. "We will find other ways to attack and connect with each other. It is clear where Viktor is truly dangerous; it is up to us to place him in that situation as much as possible," he said.

Eze Introduction

In addition to the opening goal by Gyokeres, many other positive developments occurred at the Emirates. Before the match began, Arsenal first introduced a new player acquired from Crystal Palace, namely Eberechi Eze. The England national team midfielder adds to the arsenal of attacking options for "The Gunners."

Dowman also showcased his potential during the last half hour. Replacing Noni Madueke, the teenager successfully became the second youngest debutant in the history of the Premier League (15 years and 235 days). He is only surpassed by another Arsenal player, Ethan Nwaneri, who made his debut in 2022 (15 years and 181 days).

Dowman's best performance came in injury time. Faced with two opposing players, he managed to draw a foul in the penalty box. "I think everyone could see how much potential he (Dowman) has. He played like a man. He was a joy to watch," said Arsenal full-back Jurrien Timber.

Meanwhile, Arsenal once again demonstrated their resilience in corner kick schemes. They scored two goals from corner kicks executed by midfielder Declan Rice. Both goals were created by Timber, who was always in the right position in the penalty area.

Leeds coach Daniel Farke stated that the result highlights the quality gap between championship contenders and promoted teams. "It is certainly very frustrating to concede from set pieces. However, they were indeed effective with five goals from five shots on target. In short, they are the better team and deserved to win," he said.

Among many positive aspects, Arsenal's night was marred by injury issues. Two of their key players, Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, were substituted during the match due to injuries. Odegaard suffered a shoulder problem, while Saka felt something in his thigh muscle. Fortunately, the "Gunners" squad is deep enough to cover these gaps. (AP/REUTERS)