Gyökeres responds to criticism.

Gyökeres have been booming recently.

Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Sunderland in the 25th round of the Premier League on February 7th not only helped them consolidate their leading position in the Premier League, but also provided a more significant signal: Viktor Gyökeres is moving beyond his exploration phase to become a true center forward.

Gyökeres explodes

Two goals in what seemed like a quiet afternoon at the Emirates didn't have the explosive quality of a footballing team, but they showcased genuine qualities that Arsenal had long been searching for.

Gyökeres is not the type of striker who is aesthetically pleasing to watch. In the early rounds, he gave the impression of being out of sync, even clumsy. At times, people saw him fall more often than shoot.

However, it's worth noting that Gyökeres didn't disappear. He continued to clash, continued to run, continued to chase down defenders until an opportunity arose.

Against Sunderland, that moment came naturally: a fall, a loss of balance, but still sending the ball into the net. An imperfect goal in terms of visuals, but perfect in terms of effectiveness.

That was also Gyökeres' first touch of the ball just minutes after coming on as a substitute. In a game where Arsenal controlled the tempo at a low level, that goal served as the final "closing slate." From the moment he opened the scoring before halftime, the game felt like a simple puzzle to solve, and Gyökeres provided the easiest solution.

Gyökeres scored a hat-trick against Sunderland.

What made this performance remarkable was how Gyökeres integrated into the team's structure. The first goal wasn't a solitary individual effort, but the product of a perfectly executed Arsenal-style combination.

Declan Rice pressed aggressively, Leandro Trossard made intelligent runs to receive the ball, and Kai Havertz neatly controlled it before setting up Gyökeres' run. That's the synergy between the lines, something that manager Mikel Arteta always strives for.

The second goal, scored in injury time, revealed another aspect of the game. In a quick counter-attack, Gyökeres maintained sufficient speed to keep pace with Gabriel Martinelli, then opted for the simplest solution: a horizontal pass to set up the perfect assist.

No frills, no ostentation, just the right decision. For a center forward, it's a sign of developing confidence.

Gyökeres spoke up at the right time when Arsenal needed him.

Looking at the bigger picture, the numbers are in Gyökeres' favor. Six goals in his last eight games across all competitions, eight in the Premier League, and 13 goals across all competitions. He has become Arsenal's top scorer in the domestic league.

Of course, there are still questions. Gyökeres' goals have mostly come against opponents who aren't among the strongest. A decisive moment against a big team is still what he needs to truly prove his worth.

Gyökeres scored at just the right moment for Arsenal.

However, football championships aren't decided solely by flashy moments. They're built on a series of "must-win" matches and "must-score" goals.

In that respect, Gyökeres is meeting expectations perfectly. He brings a different kind of goal to Arsenal: from physical challenges, from powerful runs, from positioning himself correctly in the penalty area. These qualities might be overlooked, but they are absolutely essential in the final stages of the season.

Gyökeres also needs to be considered within the bigger picture. Arsenal are not entirely dependent on their attacking line right now.

The opening goal against Sunderland came from defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi with a superb long-range shot. The defense, with its best quartet this season, continues to be a stable foundation. In that structure, Gyökeres doesn't need to carry everything. He just needs to do his part well, and that helps Arsenal achieve better balance.

Being nine points ahead of the second-placed team in the Premier League table going into February is a significant advantage. It's a position a serious team must know how to defend. Arsenal are showing they've learned how to win "normal" games, without needing to perform spectacularly. And Gyökeres, with his rough but effective style of play, is the perfect fit for this period.

Gyökeres may never become a Thierry Henry-style icon. He doesn't need to. Arsenal aren't looking for a romantic role model, but rather a striker who can score goals, is physically strong, and is patient.

What Gyökeres showed against Sunderland suggests he's getting closer to that image. Not flashy, not flamboyant, but enough to convince people that Arsenal have found the "real deal" for the title race.