Arsenal and Liverpool: What is missing for Viktor Gyokeres and Florian Wirtz to deliver more?

The arrivals of Viktor Gyokeres and Florian Wirtz to the Premier League were two of the great sagas of world football in the last transfer window. Arsenal and Liverpool celebrated their signings that, on paper, would elevate the team's level.

The start, however, has been quieter than expected for the pair. The former Sporting player, one of the world's great goalscorers, had a timid start without great opportunities. The German maestro had difficulties imposing his game on the Reds and even ended up on the bench. Why?

Despite the different leagues compared to England, it was expected that the prominence at their former clubs would be translated more quickly. But, at this moment, what is missing for Gyokeres and Wirtz to deliver their full potential to their clubs?

Gyokeres needs space that is increasingly rare

Gyokeres has three goals in seven matches for Arsenal so far - all in the Premier League. Taking into consideration that there are three balls in the net in five rounds of the championship, it is not a bad average.

The issue is that the Swede comes from two seasons of absurd numbers, with more involvement in goals than matches for Sporting. And despite being the lethal centre-forward that the Gunners needed, there remains the feeling that he could do even more.

Gyokeres's problem at this moment is something similar to what Haaland has had to live with all along at Manchester City: little involvement in the game as a whole. He is the player with the fewest touches of the ball among Arsenal starters who have played at least 45 minutes in the matches in which the Swede has been on the pitch.

On the other hand, this was expected. Arsenal control the game in a more measured way than their rivals and even City's exaggerated dominance did not prevent Haaland from breaking records. However, the number 14 has had three matches so far without a single shot - all against rivals, including: Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City.

At Sporting, Gyokeres was the player who attacked the back of the defence constantly, regardless of the space he had. In the Premier League, there are fewer metres to run, and with a squad without Odegaard and Saka in recent rounds, the ball has been reaching the centre-forward less frequently.

Furthermore, when he manages to escape the pressure and accelerate the build-up, Arsenal tend to take the ball to the flanks for their wingers to create in one-on-one situations, and make little use of the central corridor - where Gyokeres is. The centre-forward also makes diagonal runs behind the defence to be an option in depth, but loses the angle if he receives.

Mikel Arteta has been trying to change to fit in the Swede. So much so that Arsenal have been more direct and vertical than normal in the current season: their long pass numbers have increased and the tactical diversity of the team is also greater.

Against Manchester United, for example, the Gunners had a direct attack speed of 1.9 metres per second, a very high number compared to past seasons. But against Leeds, who defend much lower, the speed fell to 0.6 metres per second.

The absence of creators in recent matches, different approaches depending on the opponent and less space are issues that Gyokeres has faced at the start of his trajectory at Arsenal. On the other hand, all are situations that can and are changing, which is encouraging for the centre-forward, Arteta and the supporters.

Wirtz: the creative midfielder who impacts more without the ball than with it

Wirtz's situation, meanwhile, is more complex. The German is an extremely creative and skilful midfielder who became prominent in a fluid system with two number 10s, wingers who attacked depth constantly and a more physical centre-forward - but who also had good moments as a false 9.

At Liverpool, the impression is that Arne Slot has not yet found the best place for Wirtz, who has played as a midfielder, left-winger and striker in the Reds' 4-2-3-1. There have been moments of good link-up play and understanding of spaces with and without the ball.

Against Newcastle, for example, in Gravenberch's goal, the midfielder attacks the space between the lines to receive inside the area unmarked. He does not receive, but pulls Joelinton, who does not press Liverpool's midfielder and opens space for a shot that ends in a goal.

According to data collected by Sky Sports, Wirtz is the Premier League player with most high-speed runs (59, nine more than second place, Bryan Mbeumo). This shows that there is much being done also without the ball.

The debut against Bournemouth was a clear example of this. With less than five minutes gone, the German left the number 10 position in the middle to open out wide, pulling his marker with him and opening space for Mac Allister's drives or passing windows to find Ekitike. Then, he quickly infiltrated the area when the ball reached the wingers to be a finishing option.

The number seven has been generating more danger without the ball than with it, which contrasts with his style of play: a skilful midfielder who dominates matches with dribbles and passes. But if this has not yet been present - perhaps due to adjustment to the physicality of the league - there is still impact in another way.

Of course Wirtz has not been impactful directly with goals and assists as in his Bayer Leverkusen days, but the reasons why the Reds signed him are being shown gradually.

This article was originally published on Trivela.