How to stop Viktor Gyökeres? ‘We'd have to foul him just to slow him down'

The Guardian

6 hours ago

Stopping Viktor Gyökeres was arguably the greatest challenge in Portuguese football over the past two seasons. Every time the new Arsenal striker stepped on to the pitch, defenders, goalkeepers and managers braced for 90 relentless minutes. Across his two years at Sporting, he scored 68 goals in 66 league appearances – and added another 29 in other competitions. But what is it really like to face the Swedish forward? And how can Premier League teams hope to contain him?
For Kewin Silva, the name stirs up difficult memories. In April, the then Moreirense goalkeeper was forced to fish the ball out of his net three times during one of Gyökeres's standout performances for Sporting. Earlier in the season, the modest northern club had stunned the Lisbon giants with a 2–1 home win. Gyökeres did score from the penalty spot that day, but Moreirense's defence managed to keep him quiet otherwise. In the return fixture, however, with the title race intensifying, nothing could stop him.
'I don't have the best of memories from him – he scored in most of the games,' the Brazilian goalkeeper says with a chuckle. 'We were fully aware of his individual quality. Because of that, we knew we had to be extra cautious, especially in terms of cover when he managed to break free. We'd often have to foul him just to slow him down.'
Describing Gyökeres almost like a recurring nightmare, Kewin vividly recalls some moments that showcased the striker's brilliance. 'I remember in one match, he dribbled past my centre-back near the edge of the box and took a toe-poke shot,' he says. 'It was really powerful, but I managed to save it. He's that kind of complete player – able to finish from anywhere, read the game intelligently and give depth by holding up play.'
Carlos Carvalhal, the former manager of Swansea City and Sheffield Wednesday, was at the helm of Braga last season. His team were one of the few to take points off Sporting in the run-in, earning a hard-fought draw in Lisbon. Gyökeres opened the scoring early, but was effectively shut down for the remainder of the match. So what can Premier League teams learn from that performance?
'He has a preferred movement – drifting from the centre out to the left wing,' Carvalhal says. 'To neutralise that, we focused on maintaining balance on our right side – their left. Sporting would try to draw our right-back out of position to create space for Gyökeres. So we trained our right-back specifically to avoid being lured out. That way, Gyökeres always had to deal with him directly. As a result, we didn't allow him many clear chances.'
That wasn't the only key, but Carvalhal says it was the most critical tactical element. Corners and other set pieces can also be a particular challenge. Although Gyökeres scored only five goals with his head for Sporting, Carvalhal says: 'He is a very strong player in the area whenever there is a cross. We played with a very finely tuned sectorial tactic, keeping the four defenders really close together so he didn't have space. It turned out well.'
Carvalhal also highlights how Gyokeres has grown during his time at Sporting, developing into a more complete forward. 'If Arsenal are leading, he'll exploit the open spaces. If not … well, I believe he's improved a lot in terms of link-up play. Arsenal don't just play wide; they also construct through the middle. Right now, he's much better suited to their style than when he first arrived in Portugal. Back then, he was all about pace and power. He's since refined his game considerably.'
Gyökeres built a reputation for tearing through defences. Rúben Fernandes, the former captain of Gil Vicente, was one of the players tasked with shadowing him. He remembers with pride the night his team kept a clean sheet against Sporting – one of the rare occasions that season. The match, played in December 2024 in Barcelos, ended 0-0.
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'We trained the entire week to make sure Gyökeres didn't have space and to prevent Sporting's dangerous attacks,' he says. There were 'two or three players' specially assigned to make sure the forward didn't have his way. 'He was one of the most dangerous players; it's normal he has at least one player on top of him at all times,' he says.
After the match, the dressing room was filled with pride. The draw felt like a victory against the champions. 'We felt like we'd completed our mission,' Fernandes says with a grin. 'He was scoring in nearly every game. So for us to shut him down – that's something all the players, especially the defence, could be proud of.'
Asked what advice he'd give to Premier League defenders, Fernandes acknowledges that things may be tougher for Gyökeres now. 'Players in England are more physical and used to his power. What tips can I give them? Never leave him alone, always have players around him.'
The message from Portugal is clear: Gyökeres can be stopped – but never easily. Arsenal fans hope his best is ahead, as a more complete and dangerous version of the player who barely got a look in during his time at Brighton from 2018-21 and has played in the Championship with Swansea and Coventry steps on to the Premier League stage. For defenders across England, his arrival should be a warning sign.