A lot needs to happen at Manchester City this summer if Pep Guardiola is to wrestle the Premier League title away from Liverpool.
Hugo Viana still has work to do on the squad, with plenty of deadwood at the Etihad Stadium in the form of Jack Grealish and James McAtee – both of whom were left out of the FIFA Club World Cup squad.
Matheus Nunes also started the last game, a 4-3 defeat against Al Hilal, out of position at right-back once again, which cannot continue heading into the 2025/26 campaign.
If that 4-3 loss hadn’t already made Manchester City fans feel pessimistic about the Premier League title race next season, the fact Arsenal are close to signing Viktor Gyokeres could do it.
Arsenal close to signing Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League tormentor Viktor Gyokeres, and he could be the final piece of the jigsaw for Mikel Arteta
Arsenal are expected to wrap up a deal for the Sweden international this week after agreeing a £65m fee with Sporting CP – and he could well be a difference maker next season.
Manchester City fans will recall Gyokeres scoring a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League against the Citizens last season, firing Sporting CP to a 4-1 win which shoved Guardiola’s side down to sixth in the league phase.
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These strikes were just three of 54 goals the Swede bagged last season, remarkably coming in just 52 appearances.
Mikel Arteta could finally have his very own Erling Haaland in worrying development for Pep Guardiola
Not only could Gyokeres, who was once linked to the Citizens, now be the difference maker in Premier League clashes against Arsenal next season, but he could well give Mikel Arteta exactly what the Spaniard has been missing in previous title races against Manchester City when facing more stubborn defences.
The Gunners have been without a prolific No.9 in their two title races up against Manchester City in recent years, relying on the goals being spread throughout the side, with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice expected to deliver.
That cost Arsenal in some games when opponents found a way to stifle the Gunners, but the presence of a natural goalscorer who can find the net out of nothing should worry Guardiola heading into the new season, as a direct rival now seem to have finally landed what could be the missing piece of their puzzle.