‘Arsenal’s move for Victor Gyokeres could be scuppered by two big worries: ‘Concern’
Arsenal’s number one priority this summer is a striker, and Victor Gyokeres is one of the names on Mikel Arteta’s shortlist.
The Swedish international has impressed at Sporting Lisbon since he joined the Portuguese side from Coventry back in the summer of 2023.
This season, the striker has scored 39 goals in 33 league games, as well as finding the net on six occasions in the Champions League.
In contrast, the Gunners have struggled to score in vital games recently, after losing both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus for long periods due to injury.
Arsenal boss Arteta is under pressure to get his signings right in the summer transfer window, after finishing second in the Premier League for the third consecutive year.
Concerns over Gyokeres deal
As well as Gyokeres, Arsenal are interested in Alexander Isak from Newcastle, and Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.
With the Magpies unlikely to sell Isak though, it is believed that the Sporting striker is the second choice for the North London club.
However, BBC Sport’s (19 May) senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel has revealed the two concerns the Gunners have about bringing in Gyokeres.
Mokbel reported that there are worries about whether the Swedish striker’s form in Portugal would translate to the Premier League, due to the difference in quality.
There are also concerns about his age, with Gyokeres turning 27 before the start of next season, Arsenal would struggle to recoup whatever they pay for the forward.
Arsenal’s striker problem
With injuries in the striker department midway through the season, Arteta was forced to turn to Mikel Merino, who is a midfielder by trade.
Merino actually performed quite well in his new position, scoring a brace against Leicester as well as grabbing goals against Liverpool and Real Madrid.
| Games | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards |
| 27 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
However, while the experiment worked well in some games, the problems were evident in Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final defeat to PSG.
In tight matches where the winner is decided by small margins, the Gunners need to have a goalscorer who can win them the game in the blink of an eye.
If Arsenal want to challenge for Premier League and European titles, they cannot rely on Havertz, Jesus and Merino, and must go out and spend money on a proper goalscoring number nine.