Arsenal should not expect the Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Lisbon to return this season, and they can look to Darwin Nunez's struggles at Liverpool for proof, a former Gunners and Reds winger has exclusively told Sports Mole.
The Sweden international was found wanting on his competitive Gunners debut in Sunday's 1-0 Premier League win over Manchester United, where he had just 22 touches, zero shots and won just one of his six aerial duels.
Gyokeres arrived as the top scorer in Europe's top 10 leagues over the past two seasons, while Nunez scored 26 in 28 matches during the 2021-22 Primeira Liga season with Benfica, but he never managed more than 11 Premier League strikes for Liverpool before joining Al-Hilal.
As a result, Champions League finalist and former FA Cup winner Jermaine Pennant is still not convinced that Gyokeres was the right pick for the Gunners, saying “It's a tough one because I'm on the fence with Viktor Gyokeres.
"His numbers in the Portuguese league were fantastic. But the Premier League is a different beast, a different animal. Not only is their physicality a lot stronger, not only the intensity of the actual game a lot quicker, they're playing against better players all over the pitch.
'Nunez did not make those numbers': Arsenal sent Gyokeres warning
Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres on August 17, 2025
"We saw with Darwin Nunez, 26 goals in 28 games for Benfica. He's come to Liverpool and he's not made those numbers.
“I think he will come good. But you can't expect to get Viktor Gyokeres at Sporting Lisbon that you're going to get at Arsenal. I don't think that's going to happen.”
Arsenal made Gyokeres their number one attacking target after finding themselves frustrated in their efforts to sign Benjamin Sesko, whom they had had their eye on for over a year, but RB Leipzig's price demands allegedly proved excessive earlier this summer.
Man United ended up agreeing an €85m (£73.5m) deal for the Slovenia international, who is five years younger and two inches taller than Gyokeres, albeit without the sensational goal record over the past two seasons to match.
Sesko managed a solid but unspectacular 13 goals in the 2024-25 Bundesliga season - and 21 in total across all competitions - and he was only brought off the bench for the final 25 minutes of Sunday's loss to the Gunners.
Pennant: 'Sesko would suit Arsenal better than Gyokeres'
Manchester United's Benjamin Sesko on August 17, 2025
Pennant believes that the former Red Bull Salzburg starlet is better suited to an Arteta side, but given that Gyokeres is an established goalscorer, he can understand why his former side went in the direction that they did.
“Sesko looks more of a player that would probably suit Arsenal," he added. "I think technically he's better. But he only scored 13 goals in the Bundesliga, he's still young. Arsenal need a proven striker, so I understand why they've gone for Gyokeres.
“They need a striker who can do it right now in this time frame. You get Sesko, probably a better player, but he needs to be nurtured. Or someone who's a proven goalscorer right now. So it's tough.”
While Gyokeres's performance was lackadaisical from a statistical point of view, the striker was defended by a 2003-04 Arsenal Invincible, who identified two saving graces of his Gunners debut.
The former Coventry City striker will be eyeing a second successive start against Leeds United at the Emirates on Saturday evening, although he will face intense competition from Kai Havertz for the number nine position.
Jermaine Pennant was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of 7bet football betting.
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