Former Spurs Striker Expresses Concern Over Arsenal's £64m Signing Viktor Gyokeres

Arsenal's £64 million signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP has been met with cautious optimism.

While the Swedish striker's prolific 54-goal season last year suggests he could be the missing piece in Arsenal's title puzzle, his record against top-tier opposition has raised some eyebrows.

Viktor Gyokeres' arrival has prompted a tactical shift at Arsenal, with manager Mikel Arteta instructing his players to adopt a more direct style to maximize the striker's strengths.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

This change was evident in pre-season matches against Newcastle and Tottenham. However, concerns linger about Viktor Gyokeres' ability to deliver against top competition.

While initial reports suggested he only scored three goals against top-half teams in the Portuguese league last season, a closer look reveals he actually netted just twice in eight league matches against Benfica, Porto, Braga, and Santa Clara.

This statistic, along with others circulating online, paints a picture of a player who thrives against weaker opposition.

On ‘The Rest is Football’ podcast, Gary Lineker mistakenly cited the lower figure, calling the transfer a ‘gamble.’ Despite the error, the underlying concern about Viktor Gyokeres' big-game performances remains valid.

Arsenal will be hoping for a significantly better return against Premier League rivals this season. This concern is amplified by Arsenal's own struggles against top-half teams last season.

They averaged 2.05 goals per game against bottom-half sides compared to just 1.55 against top-half opposition, with a corresponding win rate of 70% versus 33%.

However, it is important to note that Viktor Gyokeres did score six goals in the Champions League, including a hat-trick against Manchester City, and a crucial late winner against Benfica in the Portuguese cup final. This demonstrates his potential to rise to the occasion in important matches.

Micah Richards, Lineker's podcast co-host, acknowledged potential weaknesses in Viktor Gyokeres' hold-up play but emphasised his value as a threat in behind, something Arsenal has lacked in recent years.

Those stats are especially worrying given that Mikel Arteta’s men averaged 2.05 goals per game against bottom-half sides in 2024/25 compared to 1.55 against top-half opponents.

They also had a 70%-win rate against the bottom-half teams and only 33% against the top half, which included the likes of Newcastle, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Bournemouth and Brentford.

Despite firing blanks in the aforementioned league encounters, Viktor Gyokeres netted six in the Champions League, including a hat-trick against Manchester City, and a crucial last-gasp goal to beat rivals Benfica in the Portuguese cup final, demonstrating he has what it takes to step up when needed.

“I think it’s a very good signing. I still think there are question marks whether he can do it at this level consistently because I’ve watched a load of videos on him and I think he’s really good in terms of his movement. He’s a really clever striker and can run in behind,” he said.

“I don’t think people should be expecting him to hold up the ball really well. There are times in games where I’ve watched the ball go up to him, and it’s coming back off him. And then he scores two goals, and everyone says he’s been absolutely amazing. But he’s exactly what Arsenal need.”

While doubts persist over Viktor Gyokeres’ consistency against elite opposition, his Champions League performances and unique skill set offer Arsenal a new attacking dimension, and if integrated effectively, he could be the catalyst Mikel Arteta needs to finally overcome the club’s struggles in big matches.