Viktor Gyokeres joined Arsenal with high hopes after a great time at Sporting CP. The Swedish striker is known for his strength and goal-scoring skills. But this season, he has not been at his best. He has gone through long periods without scoring in the league. Some games, he barely touches the ball. This has led to questions about how well he fits into Arsenal’s style of play.
Gyokeres’ Tough Time at Arsenal
Viktor Gyokeres joined Arsenal with high hopes after a great time at Sporting CP. The Swedish striker is known for his strength and goal-scoring skills. But this season, he has not been at his best. He has gone through long periods without scoring in the league. Some games, he barely touches the ball. This has led to questions about how well he fits into Arsenal’s style of play.
Viktor Gyokeres often makes good runs and comes short to get the ball. But it seems like his teammates are not giving him many passes. This lack of service has hurt his confidence. He looks low on energy in matches. Arsenal has other forwards like Gabriel Jesus, who gets more chances when he comes on. This difference shows there might be issues in the team.
The Brutal Message from Paul Merson
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has given a strong opinion on Gyokeres. On the Stick to Football podcast, Merson said that Gyokeres’ teammates do not trust him with the ball. He explained: “I watch Gyokeres, Arsenal don’t trust him, the players. They never pass to him, you watch him, next time he comes short they go, ‘No’.”
Merson compared this to Gabriel Jesus: “If you watch it, you’d be surprised, then when Jesus comes on, they keep on giving it to him all the time. That’s what I see from when I watch the game, he comes short and they never give him it. He makes some good runs as well. He’s low on confidence at the moment but I don’t think they trust him at all.”
This is a brutal message for Gyokeres. Merson is a former player who knows the club well. His words suggest there are problems in how the team plays together. It could put more pressure on Gyokeres to improve. Arsenal manager might need to work on building trust among players.
🚨 𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗭𝗬 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧: Viktor Gyokeres produced 80 G/A in 57 games last season in all competitions.
This season he has only produced 11 G/A in 32 games in all competitions. pic.twitter.com/lpLe5t3nZE
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) January 27, 2026
Surprise Transfer Bid Emerges
In other news, Arsenal made a surprise late bid for Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka on transfer deadline day. But Goretzka turned it down. The 31-year-old wants to stay at Bayern until his contract ends at the end of the season. He has been at Bayern for eight years and is thinking about his next move.
Arsenal wanted Goretzka because their midfielder Mikel Merino got hurt. Merino has a long-term foot injury from the loss to Manchester United. The team needs help in the middle of the field. Other clubs like AC Milan, Napoli, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid are also interested in Goretzka. He could join one of them for free next summer.
This bid shows Arsenal is trying to fix squad issues. But missing out means they have to use what they have now.
Arsenal’s Form and Future Outlook
Arsenal has won their last two games after the United loss. They are strong in Europe and cups. But the Premier League is tight. Extending their lead over City is key. Aston Villa could go above City for a bit if they win their game.
For Gyokeres, he needs to get back his form. Maybe more passes from teammates will help. The manager must decide how to use him and Jesus. Without new signings, the current players have to step up.
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