Viktor Gyökeres arrived at the Emirates Stadium for a transfer fee exceeding £60 million, riding the wave of his sensational scoring form at Sporting CP, where he netted 54 goals across 52 appearances. In his debut campaign with Arsenal, he scored 21 goals and helped the Gunners lift their first Premier League title in 22 years, briefly being hailed as the club’s long-term solution up front. However, the start of the new season has plunged the Swedish striker into a major slump: he has seen minimal Premier League minutes and looked ineffective with little presence on the pitch in his rare starting opportunities. Between his hefty price tag and title-winning season on one hand, and his falling status plus tactical mismatches on the other, one big question hangs over everyone: does Viktor Gyökeres still have a future at Arsenal?
1. Current Situation: Reduced Minutes and Poor Displays in Key Games
This season, Gyökeres has fallen from being Arsenal’s top scorer last term to a fringe striker in the squad. In Premier League matches, he spends most games on the bench, only getting a handful of minutes on the pitch. In his limited starting outings, whether in the Champions League tie against Napoli or the EFL Cup clash with Ipswich Town, his performances drew heavy criticism. In the Champions League fixture versus Napoli, he started and played 72 minutes but registered only 9 touches, almost disappearing from the attack. In the full EFL Cup start, he managed just one weak shot, had very few touches inside the penalty area, lost all ground duels and posted a low aerial duel success rate. Unable to trouble the opposition defence, his goalless and assist-less display failed to convince Mikel Arteta to grant him more game time.
By contrast, Kai Havertz has locked down the starting centre-forward spot for Arsenal. Havertz can drop deep to link play, press from the front and combine quickly with wingers, fitting perfectly into Arteta’s tactical framework. Even Merino, a midfielder deployed as an emergency centre-forward, has chipped in with goals and assists to create attacking chances. This competition has pushed Gyökeres further down the pecking order, with many pundits even speculating Merino could overtake him as the club’s second-choice striker. The lack of consistent match rhythm has eroded his confidence, trapping him in a vicious cycle: limited opportunities lead to poor form, which in turn makes it harder to earn more minutes.
2. Root of the Problem: Tactical Misalignment – An Old-School No.9 in Arsenal’s System
Gyökeres’ struggles are not simply a loss of individual quality; the core issue is a misaligned tactical profile. At Sporting CP, he operated as an out-and-out poaching striker. The team created plenty of space for him to make runs in behind, focusing his role solely on finishing inside the box, without requiring him to drop deep to receive the ball or build attacks.
Yet the number nine role in Arteta’s system demands far more than just a penalty-area finisher. The centre-forward must drop to collect passes, hold up play, take part in high pressing and act as a connector within the attacking structure. Gyökeres excels at blindside runs, but his hold-up play, quick one-touch combinations and build-up contributions in compact, low-block defences are weaker. When opponents sit deep and remove space behind their defensive line, his threat drops sharply. Last season, Arsenal frequently used counterattacks against high-pressing opponents to maximise Gyökeres’ finishing strength. This term, rivals have studied his tendencies and closed off running lanes, magnifying his weaknesses.
Injuries have also taken their toll. A hamstring injury last season kept him out for nearly a month, robbing him of explosiveness and continuity. Psychologically, the weight of his big transfer fee, high fan expectations and irregular game time have hurt his decision-making in the final third, with poorer shot selection and reduced intensity in duels.
3. Two Paths Forward: Stay and Fight for Minutes or Pursue a Winter Exit
Option 1: Remain at Arsenal as a Rotational Option and Wait for a Turning Point
Arteta has not publicly written off Gyökeres, and he will stay with the squad after the transfer window closes. Over a long campaign, injuries and multi-competition fixtures will create rotation opportunities. Havertz cannot play every game, and Arsenal will need a back-up centre-forward across the Champions League, EFL Cup and FA Cup. Gyökeres still boasts elite finishing ability, and his movement and predatory instinct inside the box remain a weapon when opposing defences leave gaps.
That said, he must actively improve his game: he needs to sharpen his ability to drop and receive the ball, improve short passing combinations and adapt to Arteta’s pressing demands. He must capitalise on cup games and substitute appearances to score and regain the manager’s trust. If he continues to struggle in starting roles, his position will keep declining and he risks becoming a peripheral squad player.
Option 2: Depart in the Winter Transfer Window for a Better Suited Club
If he fails to rediscover his form in the first half of the season, a January transfer becomes a realistic possibility. Many European clubs admire his finishing, especially sides built around counterattacks that can offer space for a striker’s runs. For Gyökeres, leaving the Emirates and joining a team where he is the focal point of the attack could help him rediscover the prolific form he enjoyed at Sporting CP. The main obstacle is his high transfer valuation; Arsenal will be reluctant to accept a significant cut in the fee, which will complicate negotiations.
4. His Future Is Uncertain, and the Ball Is in His Court
All things considered, Gyökeres is not completely without a future at Arsenal, but he no longer has guaranteed starting minutes. He has proven himself in a title-winning season and retains elite finishing talent, meaning he still has value within a squad competing across multiple tournaments. Still, he must fix both his tactical adaptation and confidence issues, and stop being merely a penalty-area poacher waiting for crosses.
Arteta’s side are chasing silverware on multiple fronts and have limited patience for slow adaptation. If Gyökeres can seize cup and substitute opportunities, score crucial goals and prove he can integrate into the system, he can remain an important rotational striker. If his slump continues and consistent minutes stay out of reach, a winter transfer becomes the more practical choice. His Gunners career has now reached a critical crossroads.