Viktory!

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.

Today he might just give me what I’ve been wanting for around 3 years.

Not just that but an overflow blessing as the Gyokeres deal may just happen as I sit here…

That would be above and beyond.

I first discovered Viktor Gyokeres back at the same time that I discovered Michael Olise at Reading. I remember discussing Olise with Chris from the excellent ’Not Another Arsenal’ podcast.

Shortly after this I started to pay attention to the Championship a little more. We can be snobby about the league below us in the country we chose to follow football, but the truth is that this league is equivalent to over half the leagues in world football. Many that we are more than happy to buy from.

Then I saw Viktor.

He reminded me of Dolph Lundgren or someone who should audition for The Avengers.

Everyone has their preference of striker type and he looked like my flavour.

I’ve learnt over the years that the top three most important qualities of a striker are;

1. Desire
2. Composure
3. Number of tools

This is all based on Mark Sherrod.

Mark was the best striker I’ve taught in 35 years of coaching. I didn’t know that he was my preference until he showed me.

Mark was the full package both on and off the field. Off the field he was fun, social, friendly, polite and had the unique gift of being intentionally funny and unintentionally funny.

On the field he was devastating.

He had a deserved reputation of inevitability as he had almost all the tools needed to be a top striker. Right foot, left foot, fast, strong, aerially dominant blah, blah, blah…

I didn’t come to the conclusion that Mark ‘Flash’ Sherrod was my favourite kind of striker until I realized that not only did he have more tools than others but that both the centre backs were so concerned with him that Bennett ‘Cheeky Boy’ Becker, Gray ‘Del Piero’ Harrell, Daniel ‘Bucketman’ Zitt and Taylor ‘Titi’ Carter were all bagging goals because defenders had to leave them to watch Mark. They were all super talented players also, but Mark was the inevitable one.

Playing striker is far more complex  than all other positions, except keeper.

There are so many more actions that you have to perform than other positions. This has been exaggerated since football became a possession based game as most other positions are asked to simply play simply.

When the ball gets to the striker what he has to do is so varied and the opposite of simple. The other players play most of their game essentially in a ‘numbers up’ scenario much like a 6 v 4 game of keepaway. In order for a striker to thrive he has to be able to play his game in a 3 v 7 scenario. That is why the most important quality of a striker is desire. It’s bloody difficult to even get a touch of the ball, let alone a goal.

So, if you get a player who has more tools he will be given more opportunities as a high cross, low cross, ball behind, ball to feet, 1 on 1, right foot, left foot, inside the box and outside the box, are all strong possibilities. Then if you add composure to his toolbox you get this result…

Nunez was the last box monster from that league. There wasn’t the hesitancy on him. He largely failed at Liverpool because he doesn’t have the composure that Gyokeres has. Same situation, half the goals.

Arsenal aren’t just looking for a striker that can do his job better than most. They are also trying to make Odegaard and Saka’s life easier. Odegaard suffered last season largely because he was crowded out. Saka has the ability to do what Salah did but needs to occasionally be able to breathe. He is more often than not suffocated by a similar crowd.

The arrival of Gyokeres will occupy the thoughts of their defenders more than anyone we have had there in many years.

The fact that he has more tools will mean that there will be more situations of threat. An example would be that the opponents centre backs feel comfortable to stay in their hole because Arsenal rarely run behind. Gyokeres will. Not only will that move their centre backs but it will free up Odegaard (and others) to shoot unopposed rather than under intense pressure, which is his weakness.

It will also use his hidden but number one gift: the disguised through ball. Others will benefit but Odegaard will win Player of the Year because Viktor will illuminate his talents.

Players that refuse to give up are rare. Players who aren’t satisfied unless they score are rare. Players that are willing to do this are rare…

Arsenal are signing a player that has all 3 of the most important qualities that you need.

In abundance.

If you are worried that Arsenal are signing the wrong striker then this will help….

I know that the Bundesliga is a tougher league but the difference in these stats is far greater than the difference in these leagues.

Then you have this chart on box efficiency….

Don’t be concerned, be excited.

I bet the other Arsenal players are. They want to win now. 

Gyokeres is in his prime and not in need of the development that Sesko would’ve needed. Don’t underrate the importance of putting a prime player into this team and how it will instantly add to the belief and energize  the whole group.

Mark Sherrod was always going to play professionally. He did. He went on to play for San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo in the MLS and would’ve easily usurped Joey Altidore to play in the World Cup for the USA.

Mark unfortunately had to stop playing after suffering a second serious knee injury against DC United.

I didn’t get to see Mark Sherrod fulfill his potential but I now get to see another who carries the same toolbox, and he is about to sign for my team.

If he stays fit, I predict that Arsenal will have signed the best striker in the world

Mike McDonald

Former Highbury regular. Moved to TN, USA in ’99. Married with 3 kids. Coached in UK and US for 27 years.
Mike McDonald Soccer Academy in Morristown TN, Olympic Development coach, Regional Premier League Champion.