Arsenal summer transfer news promised firepower, but Viktor Gyokeres, the Swedish striker hailed as a “powerhouse” by analysts, is stumbling badly. Signed from Sporting CP for a hefty fee, the 27-year-old was meant to end the Gunners’ goal-scoring woes. Instead, with just six strikes in 17 appearances, he’s drawing uncomfortable parallels to the club’s previous dud: Fabio Vieira. Mikel Arteta’s streak of not losing has come to an end after losing 2-0 against Aston Villa. Moreover, he continues to struggle with his players, including Gyokeres, to regain the form he once had prior to that loss. It is also raising questions regarding Arsenal’s ability to successfully sign players in the transfer window.
The Vieira Debacle: A Cautionary Tale
Last year Arsenal transfer news came that they paid Porto £34 million for Vieira. A creative midfielder with 23 pieces of involvement across 39 matches. The excitement surrounding Vieira was sky-high and Arteta saw him fitting into the role of midfield orchestrator to break down defenses. Reality? A meager two goals and six assists in 33 outings that season, followed by one goal and three assists in 16 the next. Injuries, suspensions, and a lack of spark saw him shipped out on loans to Porto (11 involvements in 42 games) and now Hamburg. Vieira’s Arsenal tenure? A stark 0.24 goal involvements per match. He symbolized Arteta’s early missteps in the market, a reminder that potential doesn’t always translate.
Gyokeres’ Stuttering Symphony
Gyokeres arrived amid fanfare, his 43-goal haul at Sporting painting him as the clinical No. 9 Arsenal craved. Yet, in north London, he’s a shadow.That Villa substitute stint—50 minutes, zero shots, 11 touches, six lost possessions—epitomized the frustration. With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus lurking, Gyokeres risks demotion. His xG underperformance and isolation in Arteta’s system scream adaptation woes. At this rate, he’s not the monster; he’s the millstone.
🗣️Viktor Gyokeres reflecting on #Arsenal’s loss to Villa: “We are of course disappointed with the result. It’s not a great feeling right now, but it’s only December and there are a lot of games to play. You can always find some positives, but it’s still a very difficult way to… pic.twitter.com/Htuv3krwNN
— Arsenal News Channel (@Arsenalnewschan) December 6, 2025
Repeating History or Turning the Tide?
Arteta’s revolution—bolstered by hits like Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi—can’t afford another Vieira-level flop. Arsenal sit two points clear of City, but without a sharper spearhead, title dreams could fizzle. Will the powerhouse roar, or echo Vieira’s whimper? The Emirates holds its breath.
As featured on GoonerNews.com