Worry for Arsenal as Gunners told Viktor Gyokeres lacks crucial attribute needed to succeed in Premier League
Viktor Gyokeres may not be the final piece of Mikel Arteta’s puzzle as Arsenal aim to win the Premier League.
Gyokeres scored twice against Leeds United, his first and second since joining the club, helping the Gunners to a 5-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.
He has been unable to hit the back of the net in games either side of that, though, drawing blanks against Man United and at Anfield, the latter being rather costly after Dominik Szoboszlai scored a late winner for Liverpool.
Kai Havertz has picked up a new injury, and with Gabriel Jesus not yet back to full fitness, Arteta is depending on the former Sporting CP star to fire the Gunners to the top of the Premier League table.
Having suffered a difficult performance at the hands of Arne Slot‘s team on Sunday, 31 August, however, not everyone is sold on the £55million signing [Sky Sports].
Viktor Gyokeres lacks pace for the Premier League, says Gabby Agbonlahor
During a discussion between Gabby Agbonlahor and Alan Brazil, the former Aston Villa striker remained uncertain of whether the new signing was capable of being a difference-maker for the Gunners.
“I watched him against Man United, and he got bullied by [Matthijs] De Ligt. He found it difficult in the channels, found it difficult to hold the ball up,” Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT (4 September).
“I watched him against Championship-level defenders, and he looked very good. He scored his first goal by cutting in on the left-hand side, but against Premier League defenders, that doesn’t happen.
“He’s not the quickest. I watched him again at the weekend against [Virgil] Van Dijk and [Ibrahima] Konate, and they found it very easy to get the ball off him. Whenever he tried to run the channel, they ate him alive.
“He didn’t look strong enough, and he hasn’t got that yard of pace for me, which you need in the Premier League. In all competitions, there’s no reason he can’t get 15, 20 goals. But will he be the difference in a Champions League knockout? I’m not sure.”
A damning assessment from the former Premier League forward.
What has Mikel Arteta said about Viktor Gyokeres since his move to Arsenal?
Despite the early criticism and huge pressure resting on the striker’s shoulders, his manager clearly backs him to thrive in the Premier League, having only worked with him for a few weeks.
Speaking to the media, via The Standard (23 August), Arteta said: “I’m very happy with him. I think we need to make an effort as well to try to understand him, to connect.
“We’ve done a lot of work this week in relation to that as well. He’s a very smart, intuitive player. I’m sure he’s going to be fine,” and the player certainly repaid that faith with his brace against Leeds.
It is only three matches into the 2025/26 campaign, and with an upcoming Champions League game against Athletic Club, the Sweden international will be given another chance to shine.