'He's a diver' - Ex-PGMOL chief: Referees have 'clocked' cheating Arsenal player

Viktor Gyokeres deserves to be slammed for his act of simulation in Arsenal's pre-season clash against Borussia Dortmund.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that referees will be keeping a close eye on the striker, who is likely to build a bad reputation.

Mikel Arteta's side fell to a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates on Sunday, 9 August, but still featured in a penalty shootout for the first time since the Champions League final defeat.

Gyokeres did score from the penalty spot during the 90 minutes, thanks to clever work from Christos Tzolis, but the Sweden international had already tried to win one of his own.

In the 40th minute, the centre-forward threw himself to the floor under pressure from Joane Gadou, only for cries of a spot-kick to be waved away.

Instead, Gyokeres is being slaughtered online for going to ground far too easily, and it may not just be the fans that sit up and take notice ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Viktor Gyokeres is a 'diver, and a poor one'

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett couldn't understand the footage, branding him a "poor" diver after being denied by the referee.

"He's not going to get on the stage for acting, is he? If you've got forward momentum and you've fouled, the body continues to move forward," he said.

"He's fallen back. I think if I were the manager, I'd be having a word in his ear and say, what the player doesn't realise is that, in the eyes of referees when they do that, it clocks other referees watching.

"And maybe he's not going to get it this time because it's stupid, but the next time he's not going get it either.

"Because the referees up here are going, 'He's a diver, and a poor one'."

What did Gyokeres' stats vs Borussia Dortmund say?

Gyokeres did manage to get on the scoresheet, but with a 25 per cent shot accuracy, he did waste a number of good opportunities [FotMob].

He failed to create any chances for his teammates either, while also hitting the woodwork, being dispossessed once, and winning just 50 per cent of his ground duels.

With six touches in the opposition box, the most of anyone, the striker was clearly in the right positions, but couldn't find the final touch at the Emirates.

That was unless he was shooting from the penalty spot. Then, Alexander Meyer had no chance of keeping the Sweden international out.