Questions are beginning to emerge over Viktor Gyokeres’ future at Arsenal, just over a year after the Swedish striker joined the club from Sporting for a reported £65.3 million.
Gyokeres arrived at Arsenal after a prolific spell in Portugal and scored 21 goals while providing three assists in his first season, helping the Gunners win the Premier League title and come close to securing their first Champions League crown. However, concerns over other aspects of his game have reportedly raised questions about his long-term place in Mikel Arteta’s plans.
One of the major concerns is Gyokeres’ lack of experience in one of Europe’s top five leagues before joining Arsenal. His previous spell at Brighton consisted of just eight appearances, all in the Carabao Cup or FA Cup, while his time at Coventry City came in the English Championship rather than the Premier League.
That lack of top-level experience has become a talking point as the striker adjusts to Arsenal’s style of play.
Gyokeres’ passing statistics have also attracted criticism. Since joining Arsenal, he has reportedly completed 331 of 515 passes, giving him a 64.27 per cent completion rate, the lowest among Arsenal’s first-team players in the period cited.
The figure is considerably lower than that of midfielder Declan Rice, who has completed 3,093 of 3,495 passes for an 88.5 per cent completion rate over the same period.
Questions have also been raised about Gyokeres’ performance in one-on-one duels.
The striker has contested 362 ground duels, winning 122 for a 33.7 per cent success rate. According to the statistics cited, that is the lowest figure among Arsenal’s first-team players.
His aerial numbers are also poor by comparison, with Gyokeres winning just 45 of 142 aerial duels.
The concerns extend to his defensive contribution. Gyokeres has reportedly attempted only eight tackles since joining Arsenal, winning five of them.
The statistics have added to reports that the striker and his representatives could be considering a departure from the club, although his goal-scoring record remains a significant part of his value to Arsenal.
Kai Havertz’s return from injury has also complicated Gyokeres’ position in the squad, with the German reportedly preferred by Arteta as the central striker when available.
If Gyokeres does eventually seek a move away from the Emirates Stadium, reports suggest Arsenal may not stand in his way.
The striker has also been linked with interest from Saudi Arabian clubs, although any potential move would depend on negotiations between the player, Arsenal and interested clubs.
Gyokeres’ situation therefore presents a notable contrast between his goal-scoring output and the concerns surrounding other parts of his game, with his future at Arsenal likely to remain a talking point as the season progresses.
