Has much-maligned Gyokeres proved his critics wrong?

The talk before the season was that Arsenal needed a 20-goal-a-season striker to win a trophy - and now they finally have one in Viktor Gyokeres. By Alex Howell Arsenal reporter at Emirates Stadium The talk before the season was that Arsenal needed a 20-goal-a-season striker to win a trophy - and now they finally have one in Viktor Gyokeres. The Sweden international has 21 in all competitions this season after his double in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Fulham took them six points clear at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners signed him in a deal worth about £64m last summer after he scored 97 goals in 102 games for Portuguese side Sporting. The former Coventry City man has had plenty of critics this campaign but - after scoring a penalty in midweek against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final and now his two goals in an important match in the title race - his goals have moved Arsenal one step closer to silverware.

Even though Gyokeres has been criticised for not offering enough in general play to this Arsenal side this season, none of that will be remembered if his goals fire them to the Premier League title. When Gyokeres opened the scoring in the ninth minute at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, it brought up his 20th goal of the season and made him the first Arsenal player to score 20 or more goals across all competitions in their first season at the club since Alexis Sanchez in 2014-15 (25 goals). Saturday was also the first time that he has scored a goal and provided an assist in the first half of a league match since joining Arsenal . "He had a great performance," manager Mikel Arteta said when asked about Gyokeres' impact this week. "Every attacking action he was involved - scored two great goals.

"It's going to give him a big boost of energy to him and confidence to the team as well." Bukayo Saka was back to his best after making his first start since March after an Achilles problem, and, alongside his goal to double Arsenal 's lead, he assisted Gyokeres' opener, the first time the winger has assisted the Swede in the Premier League. "I have liked Gyokeres all season," former England striker Wayne Rooney told BBC Match of the Day. He occupies defenders and I think his goal tally has been good this season. This is when you need him now, during the run-in. This is when you need them most." It was also the first time Gyokeres has been involved in three goals in a match for Arsenal .

"The best I have seen him play. If they win the league, he has been a brilliant buy. You want your striker to get 20 goals and he has done that. Before Saturday his goals in the Premier League had earned only two points for Arsenal in their title challenge, but, after one of his season-best performances and goals against Fulham , that is now at five. At one point it did not look like Gyokeres would reach that tally, but he is now at 14 goals in the league, which is another positive sign for the Gunners when they look to end their 22-year wait for a league title.

Kai Havertz has struggled to remain fit this season, which has placed a burden on Gyokeres to lead the line in the majority of the Gunners' games this season. But in a season when a number of Arsenal 's attackers have been unavailable because of injury, Gyokeres' robustness must be praised. Arsenal have lost only three games with him in the starting XI and, with three league games to go, the forward's effort and goals could be rewarded with the Premier League trophy. The talk before the season was that Arsenal needed a 20-goal-a-season striker to win a trophy - and now they finally have one in Viktor Gyokeres. Has much-maligned Gyokeres proved his critics wrong?