Arsenal sharpshooter Viktor Gyokeres, with poor displays against Manchester United and Liverpool but a two-goal haul against Leeds United, has enjoyed a mixed start to life in north London – and reports are now claiming that he could miss ‘crucial’ games for the Gunners in 2026; but why is that?
Viewed as the long-term fix for Mikel Arteta’s centre-forward concerns, Gyokeres arrived from Sporting CP over the summer months for an upfront fee of £55 million. The 27-year-old was preferred over now-Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko.
Collectively, the north Londoners – one of the biggest clubs in world football that have never won the Champions League – recorded an outlay of around £260 million on the likes of Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi and Piero Hincapie. But how will they cope with the potential absence of Gyokeres in 2026?
Gyokeres Could Be Absent for ‘Crucial’ Arsenal Games in 2026
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The wheels on the summer transfer window are no longer turning, and Arteta has built a squad he – and his entourage – believes is good enough to challenge, and potentially win, the Premier League title after three second place finishes on the trot.
Arteta and his entourage will be damned to learn that, as the capital club continue to bridge the gap between themselves and Arne Slot’s Liverpool, none other than Gyokeres may be unable to play a handful of games next year due to an ongoing court case.
Gyokeres, widely regarded as one of the best strikers in world football, has been asked to give evidence as a witness in a defamation trial in his homeland, Sweden, next year. Alas, there is a chance that he could be out of action for some matches.
The Arsenal talisman’s agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, has filed a lawsuit for gross defamation against two Swedish outlets – and the lawyer seeing over the case, Joakim Lundqvist, has confirmed that Stockholm-born Gyokeres has agreed to take the stand and state his case if required.
According to a report from The Sun, Lundqvist told SVT Sport: “He has been called as a witness to be heard in the case regarding the circumstances described in the evidence.”
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Although Gyokeres, a 26-cap, 15-goal Sweden international, is not accused of any crime, he could be called upon to give evidence as Cetinkaya tries to sue two publications – named as Fotboll Sthlm and Expressen – in the Stockholm District Court.
The two aforementioned publications have accused Cetinkaya and his football agency, HCM Sports Management, of having ties to criminal gangs. All allegations have been vehemently denied.
The Mirror have reportedly contacted lawyer Joakim Lundqvist and HCM Sports Management for further comment on the case; but, at the time of writing, a court date has not been set so it is unclear which, if any, games Gyokeres could end up missing.
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Premier League matches aside, the beginning of Arsenal’s campaign at Europe’s top table alongside the start of their FA Cup venture means that Gyokeres risks missing crucial games.
Without looking too far ahead, after the September international break, Arteta’s men lock horns with Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium before kick-starting their 2025/26 Champions League campaign with a trip to Spain to face Athletic Club.