REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
Arsenal want rid of Viktor Gyokeres. They may not have admitted that officially, but it's pretty clear they would like to move on from the big Swede.
During the summer, the Gunners tried hard to complete a move for Julian Alvarez. It was even suggested that Gyokeres could be ferried to Atletico Madrid in the process.
Julian-Alvarez-World-Cup-Argentina
Mikel Arteta's selection has also spoken volumes. Kai Havertz is his man; he has started every single Premier League game so far. Gyokeres, on the other hand, has only played 12 minutes in the top-flight this term.
It's a worrying lack of football for someone who cost as much as £63m just over 12 months ago.
Why Gyokeres needs to be replaced at Arsenal
A little over a year ago, Arsenal decided that Gyokeres was their man to bolster the forward line.
Andrea Berta simply had to sign a centre-forward; it was a non-negotiable. However, sadly, it looks as though he has picked the wrong man.
Arsenal-Viktor-Gyokeres
Sure, the former Sporting man ended 2025/26 as their top goalscorer on 21 in all competitions, but his overall play left a lot to be desired.
What Arsenal are asking of Gyokeres and how the Gunners play has meant that, so far, this has not been too happy a marriage. 2026/27 is the clearest indication of that yet.
Havertz has been selected ahead of him in the league and the German started the Community Shield too. He has three goals in six appearances to show for his efforts.
As a result, the Sweden international has simply had to watch on from the sidelines, but even when he has got an opportunity, he has not grasped it.
Against Ipswich on Tuesday night, several fringe players staked their claim. Max Dowman's two goal performance was jaw-dropping while Noni Madueke and Mikel Merino helped themselves to goals too.
Gyokeres, however, certainly did not stake his claim. In fact, he probably worsened his claim. Against a low block, the 28-year-old is incapable of getting himself into a game.
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Gyokeres vs Ipswich
Minutes played
Shots
Touches
Successful dribbles
Possession lost
Carries
Key passes
Accurate passes
Duels won
He cannot hold the ball up and because of a lack of space in behind, he cannot run off the shoulder of the final man. That said, he's not exactly active inside the penalty box. He had just two touches in the opposition area on Tuesday, as many as second half sub Christos Tzolis.
Against Napoli a week prior, he was no better. On that occasion, Gyokeres failed to have a shot on goal. Arsenal had as many as 26 efforts that night. His lack of involvement is alarming.
REUTERS/Ciro De Luca
Perhaps it could lead to some regret surrounding Hale End. It has given Arsenal Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman in recent years. It has also given them Marli Salmon. That said, an elite centre-forward is still yet to truly emerge.
Arsenal have already got rid of a Gyokeres upgrade
The difference between youth football and senior football is enormous. Just ask Ipswich Town striker Chuba Akpom.
The forward scored against the Gunners a few days ago and was previously on their books. The now 30-year-old scored 33 goals in 52 matches for the U23s but never bagged in 12 outings for the first team.
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Arsenal U21 record goalscorers
Player
Folarin Balogun
Chuba Akpom
Eddie Nketiah
Khayon Edwards
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji
Stephy Mavididi
It's a similar story for other strikers to have come through at Hale End. Folarin Balogun has now made a name for himself in French football but only netted twice in ten appearances for Arsenal before moving on.
For Dutchman Donyell Malen, the path to stardom has been even more difficult. For those who don't know, the striker was in the Arsenal academy and actually netted 11 goals in 21 matches for the U18s. He also scored seven times in 24 games for the U23s. He never made a first-team appearance before being sold to PSV Eindhoven at the age of 18 for what sources in the Netherlands suggest was just £200,000.
Reuters/David Gray
Now worth £38m via Transfermarkt, his value has risen by an extraordinary 18,900%. That said, until recently, there is unlikely to be any regret surrounding Malen.
He was impressive at PSV, hitting the back of the net on 55 occasions in 116 matches. Yet, after moving to Borussia Dortmund, the Netherlands star scored just 39 times across 132 matches.
A recent ten-goal spell with Aston Villa was hardly fruitful either. The Villans signed him for £19m in January 2025 but sold him for £21.6m to Roma just a year and a half later.
Since moving to the Italian capital, the 27-year-old looks like one of the best players in Serie A. During his loan spell from January 2026 to May 2026, the Dutch forward scored 14 goals in 18. He was hitting the back of the net at a far greater rate than Gyokeres was, that's for sure.
Since sealing a permanent switch to Rome over the summer, Malen's immense run of form has continued. This term, he has scored six goals in four league fixtures. He is fast becoming one of the most clinical strikers in Europe; he's certainly a better talent than Gyokeres is right now.
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While Havertz is mightily important to the Arsenal team, having a player like Malen in their team wouldn't go amiss as they compete in four fronts. This is a classic what if story.
Max Dowman
Max Dowman