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Arsenal should reconsider signing Viktor Gyokeres due to these key concerns.
As Arsenal weigh their options ahead of the 2025/26 season, Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres has emerged as a potential transfer target.
The Swedish international has enjoyed a phenomenal season in Portugal, bagging goals for fun and attracting suitors across Europe.
But as tempting as his numbers may appear, Arsenal would be wise to think twice before triggering his hefty release clause.
Here are five compelling reasons why the Gunners should abandon their pursuit of Gyökeres:
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5. Premier League Adaptation Is No Guarantee
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Gyokeres may be prolific in Liga Portugal, but the leap to the Premier League is a different challenge altogether.
While he impressed during his time at Coventry City in the Championship, several pundits have raised doubts about his ability to replicate that form in England’s top flight.
Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney has even gone on record saying that Gyokeres “is not a natural finisher” and could struggle against Premier League defences.
Supporters have also voiced skepticism online, questioning whether he possesses the technical sharpness or spatial awareness needed to thrive in Arsenal’s high-tempo, possession-oriented setup.
4. Goal Stats Inflated by Penalties and Weaker Defences
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Gyokeres's goal return, an eye-watering 54 goals in 52 games for club and country over the past season, appears world-class on the surface.
However, a deeper look reveals that nearly 20 of those came from the penalty spot.
While penalties are part of a striker’s repertoire, Arsenal already have capable takers in Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
Moreover, many of Gyokeres’s goals have come against teams that would likely struggle against Premier League opposition.
His finishing metrics, though impressive, may not translate in a league known for its defensive intensity and tactical sophistication.
3. Tactical Fit in Arteta’s System Is Uncertain
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has built a side defined by fluid movement, intelligent pressing, and technical precision.
Gyokeres, while physically dominant and direct, may not be the ideal fit for such a system.
His aerial ability is not elite, and his link-up play in tight spaces can be inconsistent, something that is crucial when operating alongside Saka, Odegaard, and Martinelli.
Martin Keown recently highlighted Gyokeres’s questionable off-the-ball movement and lack of top-end pace, two attributes that are essential in Arteta’s forward line.
2. Exorbitant Price Tag Brings Unnecessary Risk
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Sporting are demanding close to £85 million to part ways with their star striker.
That is a massive gamble for a player yet to prove himself at the highest level.
Arsenal are not operating with unlimited funds, and Financial Fair Play regulations are increasingly restrictive.
Having already invested significantly in the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, and with other targets such as Martin Zubimendi reportedly lined up, committing such a huge sum to Gyokeres could limit the Gunners’ flexibility in strengthening other areas of the squad.
1. Better-Suited Alternatives Are Available
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Arsenal have reportedly shown interest in RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, a younger striker with elite physical traits, proven Bundesliga pedigree, and a ceiling that may even surpass Gyokeres’s.
Other names like Victor Osimhen, have all been linked and may represent a better stylistic and tactical fit.
Such alternatives bring top-level European experience and align more closely with the fluid and positional play Arteta demands from his forwards.
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