Michael Owen Casts Doubt on Arsenal's £64m Signing in Title Pursuit
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has raised significant concerns about whether Viktor Gyokeres can be the decisive factor for Arsenal in the intense final stages of the Premier League title race. Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal in a high-profile £64 million transfer from Sporting last summer, has experienced a turbulent debut season at the Emirates Stadium.
Mixed Performances and Goal Droughts
The Swedish international has struggled to replicate the prolific scoring form he displayed at Sporting, enduring two substantial goal droughts already this campaign. However, there have been glimpses of improvement since the start of the year, with Gyokeres netting six times in his last nine appearances across all competitions. Despite this uptick, Owen remains unconvinced about his overall impact.
'He's not for me, not really,' Owen stated in an interview with Metro, where he serves as the UK ambassador for the online casino comparison site Casino.org. 'I think he'll definitely be a source of goals if you play him in every game. But then again, I could probably play in every game for Arsenal; they are the best team at the moment and create a lot of chances.'
Competition from Jesus and Havertz
Owen suggested that manager Mikel Arteta might prefer alternatives like Gabriel Jesus or Kai Havertz in crucial matches as the season reaches its climax. 'I think if the Champions League final was tomorrow, would Mikel Arteta play him? Or would he pick Jesus or Havertz? I think so. And that probably answers the question,' he elaborated. While acknowledging Gyokeres as an asset to the squad, Owen emphasized that for a £64 million investment, more is expected. 'You would expect paying £60m for a striker, for him to be the stand-out striker, the go-to player. But I don't know.'
Ian Wright's Perspective on Gyokeres
Former Arsenal legend Ian Wright shares similar reservations, describing Gyokeres as a 'maybe' in terms of his success at the club. On the Stick to Football podcast, Wright commented, 'If we're judging him just on goals… you can probably say yeah [he's met expectations], but you judge him on everything he's bringing to the team.' He expressed hope that if Arsenal secure the title this year, Gyokeres could develop into a stronger player next season.
Arsenal aims to rebound and maintain their unprecedented quadruple hopes in an upcoming FA Cup fourth-round clash against League One side Wigan Athletic. The debate over Gyokeres' role underscores the high stakes as the Gunners navigate the Premier League title race.
