Gyokeres is scoring for Arsenal at last – but that might not be enough to save him

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres must think again if he believes his recent run of scoring form will be enough to save his future, with Mikel Arteta ready to make a brutal decision over the Sweden star.

Signed for nearly €70 million in 2025, Gyokeres was expected to provide a spearhead to Arsenal’s attack, but while the Gunners won the Premier League with the 28-year-old largely installed in the No.9 role, his lack of goals rapidly led to long-term doubts over his place at the Emirates Stadium.

With Kai Havertz fully fit again, the former Sporting CP striker’s status has changed. He is now second choice up front and is still waiting for his first Premier League strike of the season.

But his form has improved otherwise. He has two goals and three assists in his last six appearances for the Gunners, including just three starts. This marks a sharp contrast to his early season form, when he failed to have a direct hand in a goal during his first eight games.

Arteta is a cut-throat manager in such situations, and even this uptick in fortunes from Gyokeres will not be enough to save him, according to a report from Record.

The Portuguese source indicates that just because Gyokeres is producing numbers similar to Havertz, the pair are not equals in the Emirates hierarchy:

“The tactical choice is based on Arsenal's tactical context, and Gyokeres, in Arteta's eyes, needs to have a much greater impact to compensate for the lack of characteristics favourable to the type of teams he usually faces.”

Arteta hinted last week at a softening of his stance on the Swede after he scored against Slavia Prague.

“That's exactly what we need... a player who can help us and make a difference. That's why we signed him!” the Arsenal manager said.

But it’s one thing to do it against Slavia Prague and another against the Premier League’s top teams. Here, there are concerns over Gyokeres’ impact when facing strong opponents against who he sees little of the ball, with particular concerns over his movement.

The Portuguese source says: “Unlike players like Erling Haaland, the Swede needs to accumulate more actions per game to have an impact, and his decision-making worsens when he spends too much time without touching the ball.”

Without space to thrive in, Gyokeres has struggled while Havertz is seen as more adept at exploiting Arsenal’s superpower: set pieces.