With the acquisition of Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal aims to bolster their attack significantly. The key question for the Gunners` Premier League title aspirations is the precise number of goals their new Swedish forward needs to contribute.
Following three seasons of finishing second in the league, Arsenal has invested over $75 million in Gyokeres. His impressive record of 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting across all competitions, after his move from Coventry City, sets high expectations. He`s anticipated to elevate Arsenal, not just towards a Premier League championship but potentially their first Champions League title.
Concerns exist regarding Gyokeres` ability to replicate his Portuguese goal-scoring form in the more demanding English league. However, Arsenal`s strong offensive support, featuring talents like Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, and new signing Noni Madueke, should provide ample opportunities. If Gyokeres can find similar attacking positions as he did at Sporting, Arsenal will undoubtedly be Premier League contenders. The crucial factor is what specific goal tally he must achieve to secure the title.
Let`s examine the top scorers of Premier League winners over the last 10 seasons:
Top Scorers of PL Winners (2015-2025)
| Season | PL Winner | Top Scorer | Number of goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Liverpool | Mohamed Salah | 29 |
| 2023-24 | Manchester City | Erling Haaland | 27 |
| 2022-23 | Manchester City | Erling Haaland | 36 |
| 2021-22 | Manchester City | Kevin De Bruyne | 15 |
| 2020-21 | Manchester City | Ilkay Gundogan | 13 |
| 2019-20 | Liverpool | Mohamed Salah | 19 |
| 2018-19 | Manchester City | Sergio Aguero | 21 |
| 2017-18 | Manchester City | Sergio Aguero | 21 |
| 2016-17 | Chelsea | Diego Costa | 20 |
| 2015-16 | Leicester City | Jamie Vardy | 24 |
Over the last decade, the Premier League winner`s top scorer has dipped below 20 goals on only three occasions. Two of these instances involved Manchester City, a team known for Pep Guardiola`s system which distributes goals widely amongst players. The historical average for the top scorer of a title-winning team over the past ten years stands at 22.5 goals. Given the quality of service he`s expected to receive, Gyokeres has a strong opportunity to meet or exceed this benchmark.
Looking at the 2024-25 season, five players reached or surpassed the 20-goal mark in the Premier League, with three of those players` teams securing a top-four finish. This highlights the critical benchmark Gyokeres needs to target for Arsenal this season. Last season, Arsenal missed out on the title to Liverpool by a significant 10 points. However, many instances suggest that a single decisive goal could have altered their outcomes. The Gunners recorded 14 draws, the second-highest in the league, and three of their four losses were by a single goal margin. The presence of a prolific striker like Gyokeres could have converted these narrow results into victories.
Last season, Arsenal`s primary forwards, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, combined for 22 goals and six assists. In contrast, Gyokeres alone netted 39 league goals for Sporting. Arsenal`s leading scorer over the past three seasons has averaged 13.3 goals. While a slight decrease in output might be anticipated due to the Premier League`s heightened competitiveness, if Gyokeres can achieve 20 goals or more, Arsenal will significantly boost their chances of securing a trophy this coming season.
