Gyokeres 'faces danger' as he may not get playing time

The comeback of a player in Arsenal's forward line might lead to the summer star signing losing his regular place on the team.

The return of Gabriel Jesus after nearly a year sidelined due to injury has brought fresh energy to Arsenal's offense. In just a few brief appearances, the Brazilian striker has demonstrated dynamism, playmaking ability, and the positive energy that Arsenal had long lacked. However, this has inadvertently put Viktor Gyokeres under scrutiny.

Joining Arsenal for over £60 million, Gyokeres was once expected to be the perfect piece to fulfill Mikel Arteta’s ambitions of winning trophies. Yet, after 18 appearances, the Swedish striker has only scored 6 goals. While not a bad figure, especially considering he needs time to adapt to the demanding English football environment, this performance clearly falls short of Arsenal’s long wait for a top-class striker and does not satisfy everyone.

In reality, Gyokeres isn’t the type of striker who can immediately change the fortunes of a big club. His reputation was largely built on a breakout season in the Championship, followed by consistent form in Portugal. Upon arriving at Emirates, he was expected to translate that impressive scoring record to a more competitive setting. But so far, his lack of sharpness, incomplete integration, and reliance on the system have kept him from breaking through.

In this context, Gabriel Jesus presents the familiar image of a versatile forward, moving widely, supporting pressing, and linking up effectively with the frontline. Although not a consistent goal scorer, Jesus helps Arsenal play more cohesively and creates more space for teammates. This raises questions about whether Gyokeres is truly the long-term answer for Arsenal’s striker role. Moreover, Jesus’s extensive Premier League experience will be an advantage when he returns to play.

Nevertheless, it would be unfair to hastily label Gyokeres a failure at this stage. Arsenal currently has a diverse attacking squad, allowing Mikel Arteta to rotate and deploy players depending on the opponent. Over a long season, Gyokeres still has plenty of chances to prove his worth, especially if he improves his finishing and better capitalizes on the chances created.

However, with the winter transfer window approaching, the uncertainties surrounding Gyokeres will surely impact Arsenal’s personnel plans. This situation reminds us that only in truly exceptional cases can a single signing immediately change a team’s destiny.