Concerns Mount for Arsenal's Record Signing
Serious questions are being raised about Arsenal's £64 million summer signing, Viktor Gyokeres, with a Swedish football icon and a Manchester United legend both expressing reservations about the striker's start to life in North London. The 27-year-old was brought in from Sporting CP by Mikel Arteta to be the final piece in the puzzle after three consecutive second-place finishes, but his adaptation has proven challenging.
A Mixed Start at the Emirates
Gyokeres arrived with a formidable reputation, having scored a staggering 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting, playing a pivotal role in winning back-to-back Portuguese league titles under Ruben Amorim. However, his transition to the Premier League has been far from smooth. The Sweden international endured a nine-game goal drought earlier this season, only finding the net in his last two matches before the November international break.
Compounding Arsenal's concerns, Gyokeres is currently sidelined with an injury, making him a major doubt for the crucial upcoming North London derby against Tottenham. This physical setback has amplified the worries about his overall condition.
Schwarz Points to Fitness and Mental Fatigue
Former Sweden star Stefan Schwarz, who helped his nation to a third-place finish in the 1994 World Cup, has gone into detail about his compatriot's struggles. Schwarz believes Gyokeres was not fully fit even before his recent hamstring problem and is showing signs of mental tiredness from the high-pressure move.
"I believe with Viktor Gyokeres, he's not fully fit yet," Schwarz told Hajper. "As well with the new system, new manager, and new teammates, it takes time to develop the understanding. It's not just the physical part of it, it's the mental part as well."
He specifically suggested the striker needs to get a bit lighter to cope with the demands of English football. "The players in the Premier League are more powerful and faster than in other leagues... Hopefully, he'll start to create and score goals, have a good run, get that real boost, and get a bit lighter because he's a heavy player. I think that would help."
Despite the criticism, Schwarz remains optimistic about the long-term partnership, highlighting Gyokeres's strength and finishing ability with both feet. He also pointed to the lack of a proper pre-season as a key factor, emphasising that building on-pitch relationships with teammates takes time.
Yorke Delivers 'Not World Class' Verdict
Meanwhile, Manchester United great Dwight Yorke has delivered a blunter assessment, stating that from what he has seen, Gyokeres is not a world-class player. Speaking to Snabbare, Yorke expressed a preference for more exciting centre-forwards but conceded that the Swede could still be effective for the Gunners.
"He's had a decent start. He's a very good player but he's not world class," Yorke said. "I like to see my centre-forwards a little bit more exciting than what he offers but the game has changed so he'll do well at Arsenal because they dominate games."
Yorke stressed the importance of a strong mentality, urging Gyokeres to walk into the Arsenal dressing room with the confidence that he belongs among the best. He warned that if the striker ends up being "just another player in the Arsenal squad, he'll end up being average."
Both legends agree that the pressure is now on the £64 million man to adapt quickly, improve his fitness, and start justifying his hefty price tag with consistent performances and goals for Mikel Arteta's side.
