Former Premier League midfielder Danny Murphy says that Arsenal and Liverpool fans have been “let down” by their summer transfer business.
The Gunners are preparing for their next game against Leeds United, in what should be a very tight affair at Elland Road. If they can win, they could go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, depending on what Man City and Aston Villa do.
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Liverpool on the other hand are trying to stay in the race for Champions League football, as they currently sit sixth in the table, and have a tough clash against Newcastle this weekend, who could get themselves up to sixth with a win.
Murphy says Arsenal and Liverpool have been let down by Gyokeres and Isak
Both Arsenal and Liverpool spend big on strikers in the summer. Arsenal paid £55m to bring in Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP, whereas Liverpool signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a huge fee of £125m.
Gyokeres has scored five goals in 21 Premier League games, whereas Isak has managed just two goals in 10 games, amid some injury struggles this season.
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes that both sets of fans have been “let down” by the two striker signings. He told BestBettingSites.co.uk: “Isak, for obvious reasons. I know he had a slow start and then the injury, but if you take away the injury, then I think there’s probably disappointment behind Gyokeres for Arsenal in terms of the expectation that was there for him to be the missing piece.
“I wouldn’t say he’s been a disaster – he’s done okay – but I think Arsenal fans expected a lot more. When you’re spending that type of money, as Liverpool fans know, you want them to hit the ground running; you don’t want to be patient.
“So between Isak and Gyokeres, with the expectation and anticipation around both of them and their seasons to come, most Arsenal and Liverpool fans feel a little bit like that. “Let down” is the wrong word. I’d say they feel disappointed in what they’ve been given back.”
Gyokeres could be ‘unlocked’ by Havertz returning
For Gyokeres, there is an element of optimism based on midweek, as he managed to score and assist during Arsenal’s 3-2 win against Kairat. Gyokeres scored in the third minute after Kai Havertz assisted him, and then he returned the favour just over 10 minutes later.
Havertz is fully back from his injury, and if Arteta decides to play the German as an attacking midfielder behind Gyokeres, it could help to transform the £55m signing.
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