The spotlight intensifies on Arsenal`s new striker, Viktor Gyokeres. Reports indicate that following the Gunners` 1-0 win over Manchester United, key forward Kai Havertz faces a potentially long spell on the sidelines due to a knee injury. While the full extent of the 26-year-old`s injury remains unconfirmed, Arsenal`s activity in the transfer market for potential cover points to a significant absence. Interestingly, this cover might not be a direct striker, with The Athletic reporting Arsenal`s interest in Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze. Such a move would amplify the pressure on Gyokeres and could even lead Arsenal to deploy formations without a traditional striker, especially during rotation until Havertz`s return.
Gyokeres arrived this summer from Sporting CP in a transfer exceeding $75 million, with high expectations already in place. However, the initial understanding was that with Arsenal competing in four different competitions, their attacking lineup would see significant rotation, meaning Gyokeres was expected to be part of a robust and deep squad of forwards.
However, Gabriel Jesus continues his recovery from an ACL injury sustained in January, with no clear return date. This leaves Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino as the only other players in Mikel Arteta`s squad who can realistically deputize as strikers behind Gyokeres. While this might suffice against lower-table Premier League teams like Burnley, the demands of Champions League group stage play, starting in September, will necessitate greater squad rotation. Even before Havertz`s injury, Arsenal`s need for more depth in the central attacking role was apparent; now, their new star signing faces an even more intense scrutiny.
In a sense, the current situation validates Arsenal`s transfer approach. Arsenal was reportedly weighing their options between Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko, with the latter eventually joining Manchester United from RB Leipzig. Sesko is considered a younger, less refined talent, more of a promising long-term prospect than an instant impact player. Conversely, the 27-year-old Gyokeres boasts a well-established history of prolific goal-scoring.
Although Gyokeres` ascent to an elite forward took time, marked by his success at Coventry City before a move to Sporting CP elevated him to global recognition, his consistent output suggests he can replicate this at Arsenal. The Gunners don`t necessarily require Gyokeres to hit 40 goals across all competitions – though they certainly wouldn`t object – as their attack, featuring talents like Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, is designed to be a collective effort, not reliant on a single individual.
Gyokeres` critical role lies in the Champions League and other cup competitions, where his goals can be the decisive factor. Last season, he demonstrated his prowess in the UCL, netting six goals in eight appearances for Sporting. His physical presence and quick scoring ability quickly made an impression on Arsenal`s defenders. William Saliba remarked about his new teammate, `It’s scary to play against him. When you face a striker who scores goals, you have to be focused! But now he’s in our team and he will score for us, so that’s good.`
While Arsenal secured a dominant 5-1 victory when they last met Sporting in the Champions League in November, Gyokeres still created opportunities that Saliba and Gabriel competently managed. This is a crucial detail, as the caliber of defenders Gyokeres will now regularly encounter will be on par with Saliba, a stark contrast to many of the defenses he dominated in Portugal.
Although Arsenal might wish for Gyokeres to immediately deliver top performances, titles are won through tangible production, not mere hope. Gyokeres and Sesko weren`t the only striking options considered by the Gunners. Alexander Isak was also on Arsenal`s radar, but instead of paying a perceived exorbitant fee, they opted for Gyokeres, despite his lack of proven Premier League experience. For context, only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah have outscored Isak`s impressive 44 Premier League goals over the past two seasons, placing him in esteemed company. His expected goals (xG) tally of 40.89 is also third-highest, and Isak has demonstrated playmaking ability with eight assists during the same period. There`s little to suggest that his production wouldn`t at least maintain, if not improve, at a club like Arsenal, given the quality of teammates surrounding him compared to his role at Newcastle United.
Considering their initial squad depth, Arsenal`s gamble on Gyokeres having ample time to acclimatize to the English top flight, rather than paying a premium for Isak`s immediate Premier League readiness, seemed logical. However, that depth has now vanished. After finishing second in the league for three consecutive seasons, Arsenal`s immediate need is for consistent output, meaning Gyokeres` grace period for adaptation has effectively disappeared.
How Many Games Can Gyokeres Endure?
Gyokeres boasts an impressive record of 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting. While he didn`t score on his Arsenal debut, his overall presence is already impactful. Historically, the leading striker in a title-winning Premier League squad over the last decade has averaged 22.5 league goals – a benchmark Gyokeres now needs to surpass. With Havertz`s injury, a key factor will be how much rest Gyokeres can realistically be afforded.
Last season, Arsenal competed in 58 matches across all competitions. For comparison, Gyokeres played 50 and 52 games in his two seasons at Sporting, respectively. He is accustomed to a heavy workload, but when serving as the primary attacking option for his clubs over the past four seasons, the accumulation of minutes is significant. Should Gyokeres face time on the sidelines due to the demands of the Premier League, adding to Arsenal`s existing injury list, it could spell disaster for their season before it even truly begins. This underscores the importance of the club`s ongoing efforts in the transfer market to secure adequate cover for all potential scenarios.
Havertz`s Unfortunate Setback
Following a challenging initial period at Arsenal, Kai Havertz significantly improved his output over the last two seasons, contributing 22 Premier League goals and 10 assists. While he did suffer a three-month hamstring injury towards the end of the 2024-25 season, his career has largely been free of major fitness issues. Sustaining another injury at the very start of the new campaign, right after recovering from the previous one, is a considerable blow, particularly as Havertz aims to secure his place in Germany`s squad for the 2026 World Cup hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
Potential Replacements for Havertz
The Gunners have had an eventful summer, investing over $260 million in new signings with minimal player sales, only recovering funds from Nuno Tavares and Marquinhos. This financial outlay might preclude a late, improbable move for Isak, though his increasingly strained relationship with Newcastle United could make an inquiry worthwhile. Similar to Gyokeres, Isak can also operate effectively from the left wing, potentially allowing the pair to coexist, even if it might render a player like Gabriel Martinelli less essential. A more pragmatic approach could involve exploring a move for Nicolas Jackson, continuing the transfer link between Chelsea and Arsenal that already saw Noni Madueke join the Gunners this summer.
Within the current squad, Leandro Trossard offers versatility, capable of playing anywhere across the attack or as an attacking midfielder. Mikel Merino has also performed admirably when deployed as a makeshift striker. In 12 appearances as a center forward, Merino notched six goals and three assists, a significant improvement over his three goals and two assists from midfield. Notably, this included two Champions League goals and three assists. His goal against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals demonstrated his capability to lead the line, but Arsenal will be wary of over-relying on a player whose natural position is midfield. Arteta faces a delicate balancing act in covering for Havertz, but Gyokeres` immediate impact would significantly mitigate the severity of Havertz`s latest injury.
Securing Eberechi Eze would not only enhance lineups requiring a midfielder to fill a central attacking role but also introduce an additional creative force alongside Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. Against defensively compact teams, Arsenal`s ability to unlock defenses would be greatly improved by increased creativity, preventing opponents from focusing solely on key individuals. While acquiring Eze remains a calculated risk for the Gunners, it could prove highly beneficial, especially if Gyokeres delivers on his goal-scoring expectations.
