Arsenal New Signing Advised to Lose Weight If He Has to Succeed in North London

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres has been told to shed off weight if he wants to enjoy a prolific stint in front of goal for the Premier League club.

Former Arsenal midfielder Stefan Schwarz has suggested that striker Viktor Gyokeres needs to improve his fitness and shed some weight to replicate his prolific form from Sporting Lisbon in the Premier League.

Schwarz, who followed a similar path from Portugal to North London, believes the powerful forward's "heavy" build could be a hindrance. However, these comments may not sit well with the 6ft 2in Gyokeres, who previously dismissed critics calling him "fat" during his time at Sporting.

Gyokeres has made a solid start at Arsenal, scoring six goals in 14 appearances. Manager Mikel Arteta has praised his "phenomenal" work ethic and seems to have no concerns about his fitness, having started the Swede in all but one match this season—a Carabao Cup tie where he appeared as a substitute.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

Despite this, Schwarz, who spent a single season at Arsenal after joining from Benfica, insists that while Gyokeres can succeed, he still has room for improvement.

Gyokeres Given Tips to Succeed at Arsenal

"He needs to get his fitness up. I think he's in the right team with Mikel Arteta and the players around him. It's a fantastic squad," Schwarz told Hajper. "Arsenal has been fighting for the big titles, so maybe he can help the team to take this big step."

Schwarz acknowledged the striker's strengths, describing him as a "strong, physical guy, and a good finisher with both feet." However, he cautioned that the depth of Arsenal's squad means Gyokeres will face competition for his spot.

"The quality shown by the players on the bench and the options that Arsenal have means that Gyokeres won't play all the games," he added. "Sometimes the dog who barks loudest is not always the strongest. The players in the Premier League are more powerful, faster players."

The former Swedish international elaborated on his fitness concerns, stating, "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."

Mikel Arteta In Awe of Swedish Striker

Schwarz also pointed out that Gyokeres missed a full pre-season, which is crucial for building on-field chemistry. "That's a relationship that takes a bit of time, and football is about fine margins... He will learn and score a lot of goals, and that will benefit Arsenal."

Gyokeres, 27, is no stranger to scrutiny over his physique. He faced similar comments after his 2023 move to Sporting. "People always talk," he once remarked. "There is always some kind of talk. I think there was some who called me fat when I came to my first pre-season with Sporting... It's always those kind of thoughts to just try to make a statement or good headline."

Statistics suggest Gyokeres possesses considerable speed. Last season, he recorded a top speed of 34.5 km/h in the Champions League, a figure comparable to renowned speedster Micky van de Ven, who has clocked 34.6 km/h in the same competition this term.

After a recent seven-game goal drought, Gyokeres has found the net in two of his last three matches. Ultimately, it is Arteta's opinion that holds the most weight, and the manager appears satisfied with his striker's overall contribution.

"I'm very pleased with what he's given to the team," Arteta said. "I told him before the first meeting: the nine that I want is a nine that when he doesn't score for six or eight games, he can handle that. If not, you have to go somewhere else."