Arsenal’s £64 million signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon has been met with some skepticism, notably from Manchester United legend Paul Scholes, who has raised doubts over whether the Swedish forward is the ideal fit for Mikel Arteta’s tactical system.
Concerns Over Gyokeres’ Fit at Arsenal
Gyokeres, whose career took an unconventional path through Brighton, Coventry City, and finally Sporting Lisbon, is widely recognized for his prolific goal-scoring record, including 52 goals last season. However, Scholes has questioned whether the striker was Arteta’s first-choice target after a prolonged and somewhat indecisive transfer process.
Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, Scholes remarked: “Arsenal needed a centre forward, and I just wonder if they’ve chosen the right one. There was a lot of um-ing and ah-ing about it, and I wonder if Arteta really wanted him as the main one. His goal record is excellent, but there are concerns about his fit within Arsenal’s system.”
Playing Style vs Arsenal’s Tactics
Scholes also expressed concerns about how Gyokeres’ playing style might align with Arsenal’s possession-heavy approach. At Sporting, the striker thrived in a counter-attacking setup, using his strength and speed to break through defenses, especially in European competitions. Arsenal, in contrast, dominate possession, often requiring their forwards to be more subtle in their movement and positioning in tight spaces.
Scholes noted: “With Sporting, Gyokeres thrived on the counter-attack, especially in Europe. But Arsenal have the ball a lot. Is he clever enough to make the right runs behind the defense when the team is in control? He’s quick and strong, but can he make those intelligent runs like we see with someone like Alexander Isak?”
Debut Concerns
Gyokeres’ first pre-season appearance for Arsenal came in a friendly against Tottenham Hotspur, where he was substituted in during the 77th minute but made little impact, recording just two touches as Arsenal lost 1-0. Scholes’ concerns over his tactical fit only deepened after this underwhelming debut performance.
Looking Ahead
With Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Manchester United on August 17 rapidly approaching, Gyokeres will need to build match fitness and develop chemistry with his new teammates during the remaining pre-season fixtures against Villarreal and Athletic Club.
