BREAKING: PEP Guardiola urge Mikel Arteta to start playing Victor Gyokeres as……see more

Pep Guardiola has reportedly urged Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to make better use of Victor Gyökeres by building the team’s attacking approach around the Swedish striker’s biggest strengths.

The Manchester City manager, known for his tactical intelligence and detailed understanding of modern football, is imagined to have offered his assessment of how Arsenal can get the best out of their powerful centre-forward. According to the fictional scenario, Guardiola believes Gyökeres can become even more dangerous if Arsenal consistently provide him with the type of service that allows him to attack space, run at defenders and use his physical strength.

Since arriving at Arsenal, Gyökeres has attracted significant attention because of his combination of pace, power and goalscoring ability. The striker possesses the physical presence to compete with central defenders while also having the speed to threaten teams when Arsenal transition quickly from defence into attack.

For Guardiola, those qualities should be central to Arteta’s attacking plans.

Guardiola’s Tactical Advice

In this fictional account, Guardiola believes Arsenal should avoid making Gyökeres play like a striker whose primary responsibility is simply to receive the ball with his back to goal.

Instead, the Manchester City boss would encourage Arteta to give the striker opportunities to attack defenders facing their own goal.

“Every striker has his strengths,” Guardiola is imagined to have said. “With Victor, you have a player who can run behind, fight defenders, hold the ball and attack the box. You must give him situations where he can use all of those qualities.”

The advice reflects one of the most important principles in football: successful teams often adapt their attacking structures to suit the characteristics of their best players.

Gyökeres is not simply a traditional penalty-box striker. His ability to carry the ball over long distances makes him particularly dangerous when there is space in front of him. Rather than always asking him to wait for crosses, Arsenal could potentially benefit from releasing him earlier and allowing him to drive toward goal.

Using His Pace

One of Gyökeres’ biggest weapons is his acceleration.

Although he is a physically imposing forward, he can move surprisingly quickly when given room. His ability to accelerate away from defenders means opponents can be placed under pressure when Arsenal win possession and immediately look forward.

Guardiola’s fictional recommendation would therefore be for Arsenal’s midfielders to look for Gyökeres’ runs much earlier.

Instead of circulating the ball endlessly around the opposition’s defensive block, Arsenal could occasionally play more direct passes into the space behind the centre-backs.

This would force defenders to make difficult decisions.

If they step forward, Gyökeres can attempt to run beyond them. If they stay deep, Arsenal’s midfielders have more room to operate between the lines.

That dilemma could make Arsenal’s attack more unpredictable.

The Importance of Martin Ødegaard

Another important part of the discussion would be Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard.

The Norwegian midfielder has the vision and passing ability to provide the type of service that Gyökeres needs. His ability to receive the ball between the lines and deliver passes into dangerous areas could become particularly important.

In Guardiola’s imagined assessment, Ødegaard and Gyökeres could develop a strong attacking relationship.

The midfielder does not necessarily need to play spectacular passes every time. Sometimes, a simple ball played at exactly the right moment can send a striker through on goal.

Arsenal’s wingers could also play a major role.

By stretching opposition defences, players on the flanks can create larger gaps for Gyökeres to attack through the middle. If Arsenal’s wide players remain high and wide, centre-backs may be forced away from their preferred positions.

That could give Gyökeres more opportunities to exploit gaps.

Don’t Take Away His Aggression

Another point in Guardiola’s fictional advice would be the importance of allowing Gyökeres to play with aggression.

The Swedish forward is at his most dangerous when he is physically engaged with defenders. He enjoys competing for the ball, turning defenders and driving toward goal.

Arteta would therefore be encouraged not to overcomplicate his instructions.

Instead, Gyökeres could be given clear responsibilities: occupy defenders, attack space, make runs behind the defensive line, compete for crosses and attack the penalty area whenever Arsenal reach dangerous positions.

A striker who knows exactly what is expected of him can often play with greater confidence.

Arsenal’s Crossing Game

Arsenal have frequently relied on wide combinations and deliveries into the penalty area.

With Gyökeres leading the line, those situations could become even more dangerous.

His physical presence gives Arsenal an obvious target inside the box. However, the quality and variety of the crosses would remain important.

Rather than simply sending hopeful balls toward the striker, Arsenal could vary their deliveries.

Low crosses could allow Gyökeres to attack the space between defenders, while higher deliveries could give him opportunities to use his strength and aerial ability.

The key, according to the fictional Guardiola perspective, would be timing.

A striker’s movement must match the moment the ball is delivered.

Transition Football Could Be Crucial

Perhaps the biggest tactical opportunity for Arsenal is their ability to attack quickly after winning possession.

Gyökeres can be particularly dangerous during transitions because he does not need several touches to become a threat.

One quick pass into his path can immediately turn a defensive situation into an attacking one.

This could encourage Arsenal’s midfielders to look forward more frequently when possession changes hands.

Rather than always slowing the game down, Arsenal could occasionally accelerate it.

That variation would make the team more difficult to defend against.

Arteta’s Challenge

For Arteta, the challenge would be finding the right balance.

Arsenal’s possession-based football remains an important part of their identity. The objective would not be to completely abandon that philosophy but to add another dimension to it.

Gyökeres could provide Arsenal with a different attacking option.

When opponents sit deep, Arsenal can use possession and combinations to create openings. When opponents push higher up the pitch, Gyökeres can potentially exploit the space behind them.

That flexibility could make Arsenal’s attack more complete.

A Striker Who Can Change Games

The fictional Guardiola assessment ultimately comes down to one simple idea: Arsenal must play to Gyökeres’ strengths rather than forcing him into a system that does not maximize his qualities.

His pace, strength, movement and finishing ability make him a forward capable of influencing matches in several different ways.

If Arsenal can consistently provide him with quality service while allowing him to attack space, the striker could become one of the most important players in their attacking system.

For Arteta, the message would be clear.

Don’t simply ask Gyökeres to fit Arsenal’s football.

Find ways to make Arsenal’s football bring out the best in Gyökeres.

That could mean faster transitions, earlier passes, more movement around the striker, better deliveries from wide areas and greater freedom for him to attack defenders.

In the fictional words of Guardiola: “When you have a striker with these qualities, you don’t ask him to become somebody else. You create situations where he can be himself.”

If Arteta can achieve that balance, Arsenal could have a forward capable of turning their possession dominance into even greater attacking danger.