Viktor Gyokeres is not the player Arsenal thought he would be and his scoring stats have been boosted by 'charity penalties'.
That's according to talkSPORT's Rory Jennings, who believes Gyokeres will soon lose his starting spot in the Gunners' line-up.
Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring for Arsenal
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Gyokeres has scored five times in the Premier League since joining ArsenalCredit: AFP
The 27-year-old has scored seven times in 20 appearances since his £64million move from Sporting Lisbon in the summer.
Five of those goals have come in the Premier League, with his strike against Everton on Saturday his first since November 1.
Gyokeres has appeared to struggle in England so far, failing to make the big impact some expected.
He missed four games through injury last month that could have hampered his progress, but since then, he has only found the net once in another six appearances for Arsenal.
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And it seems patience with the Sweden international is running thin with those watching his performances.
“Viktor Gyokeres is a dud," host Jennings said on talkSPORT.
“I think that we've now seen enough, haven't we? I think there were question marks before he arrived. I got a lot of stick on this very station before he arrived.
“Gyokeres is basically not the player that Arsenal thought they were signing. He's not the player that they need him to be.
“That's not to say that it will be totally detrimental to their ambitions this year. They have a wonderful team.
“They have a great defence, brilliant attackers, and they can score enough goals with or without Gyokeres.”
Viktor Gyokeres stats in the Premier League this season
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Gyokeres has struggled to make a major impact in the Premier League so far
Jennings believes Havertz will take the Swede's place when he's back fit
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Jennings believes Havertz will take the Swede's place when he's back fitCredit: Getty
When asked if Kai Havertz, who is nearing a return to action having been out injured all season, will come straight back into the side, Jennings added: “I think he will.
"I think both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are better players than Viktor Gyokeres.
“Gyokeres hasn't been the player that they thought they were signing. They were signing the most prolific attacker in Europe.
“When anybody suggested caution around that, when anybody suggested scoring goals in the Portuguese league isn't necessarily the recommendation that you think it is, people would laugh at that.
“People would say that's a ridiculous opinion. He's obviously going to score goals in the Premier League. It isn't that easy.
“We've seen countless players arrive with big reputations and not be able to cut it.”
Viktor Gyokeres scores penalty for Arsenal
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Gyokeres scored his second penalty for the Gunners against EvertonCredit: AFP
Charity penalties or 'nothing special'?
Gyokeres' stats this season were then read out on air, and Jennings took issue with his seven-goal tally for the campaign.
He said: “You're looking at charity penalties in that, though.
“I think Arsenal could still win the league, but I don't think Gyokeres is going to be the player that they need him to be."
Two of the Gunners forward's goals this season have been from the penalty spot - one against Leeds in August and the other against Everton in a 1-0 win on Saturday evening.
Gyokeres took a penalty five minutes into added time against Leeds, with usual takers Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard off the pitch.
Then, against Everton, he stepped up from the spot despite Saka and Odegaard being present after a chat between the players.
Mikel Arteta shakes Viktor Gyokeres' hand
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Arteta and Gyokeres discussed Arsenal's penalty approachCredit: AFP
"We spoke a little bit on the pitch," Gyokeres revealed post-match.
"It was an easy talk and then I took it. To be fair, a few months ago I took one, and it was nice to take one again and to score.
"We don't think about it too much, we just wait for the decision. Then you know it's a penalty and you just wait for the normal procedure. Nothing special, really."
Manager Mikel Arteta also commented on the penalty, saying: “They took ownership on the pitch between Martin, Bukayo and him and decided who was the taker and he put the ball in the net. I love it when players take ownership and make the decision themselves."
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Gyokeres and Arteta's admission shows that it is not out of the ordinary for the Arsenal stars to change up who takes the spot-kicks.
But a chance at another goal is sure to have been needed for the striker, who was well over a month without one.