FC Internazionale Milano v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 - Source: Getty
FC Internazionale Milano v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 - Source: Getty
Premier League cult hero and former striker Jermain Defoe has offered an explanation for the struggles of Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres this season. The Sweden international has failed to shine since his big-money move to the Gunners after lighting up the Portuguese top-flight for two years.
Defoe spoke on Premier League Productions about the strikers available to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta this season. When speaking about Gyokeres, he pointed out that the striker's lack of a full pre-season has worked against him, preventing him from hitting the ground running in the Premier League.
“I mean, Gabi Jesus, I love him. I’ve always liked him as a player. I like Havertz and Gyokeres; he’s a goal scorer. It’s not happened for him this season for whatever reason. You know, he missed the pre-season. I think that’s a big factor. I think people don’t realise that when you try to hit the ground running", he said (via hitc.com).
Viktor Gyokeres was a target for both Arsenal and Manchester United after he scored 97 gooals across two seasons at Sporting Club, helping them win three major trophies. A failure to find an agreeable price with his former club caused the Swede to embark on a strike for weeks before a resolution was reached and he joined the Gunners for £64 million.
Gyokeres has found the net nine times in 27 appearances this season but has struggled to cope with the intensity of the Premier League, at times. The 27-year-old was on target for the Gunners in their UEFA Champions League win over Inter Milan in midweek, and will hope to kick on from the performance.
Arsenal starlet on target in Ligue 1 debut
Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri was on target as he made his debut for Olympique Marseille in Ligue 1 on Saturday. The 18-year-old scored for his new side as they defeated RC Lens 3-1 to close the gap between both sides to five points in the league.
Nwaneri completed a loan move to Marseille last week and did not take long to make an impression as he was thrown into the starting XI. The young midfielder scored in the 13th minute of his debut to put his side 2-0 up in the game at the Velodrome.
The England U-21 international left the Emirates on a temporary basis to join Olympique Marseille in a bid to play more regularly after featuring sparingly in the first half of the season. The teenager will return to his boyhood club at the end of the season as the loan deal does not include an option to be made permanent.