Viktor Gyokeres has a massive problem at Arsenal

Robin Bairner

• 21 Jan 2026 03:45 CST
• 4 min read

Nieuws

Viktor Gyokeres scored his third Champions League goal for Arsenal on Tuesday as Mikel Arteta’s side went to Inter Milan and claimed a 3-1 win, but it was an evening upon which the long-term prospects for the Swede in North London took a blow.

Before coming on for the final 15 minutes to deal the Nerazzurri a coup de grace, the 27-year-old had to watch on from the sidelines as strike colleague Gabriel Jesus stole the show.

The former Manchester City man is only 12 appearances back from a serious knee injury and has just 415 minutes of first-team football behind him but is already looking sharp as a tack.

“Gabriel Jesus at the right place at the right time again,” Alan Shearer told Amazon Prime as the Brazilian nodded in his second from close range following a corner.

It was the type of predatory goal that Gyokeres was expected to score, the reason the Gunners spent more than €65 million to sign him from Sporting CP.

Instead, the Swede sits on nine career Arsenal goals. It’s certainly not a poor return, yet it’s well short of what was hoped from him after his goal-a-game exploits in Portugal last term. Sure, there have been sparks of hope in recent days – his goal at San Siro was preceded by one against Chelsea in the League Cup – but it’s not been enough.

Arteta makes Gabriel Jesus admission

Come full-time in Italy, Arteta sounded a warning.

“We have been missing Gabi a lot,” he said.

The manager was, however, shrewd enough to temper his praise for the Brazilian considering Gyokeres’ recent form.

“I think it is going to raise his confidence levels and the team's because we now have different profiles in that position, like we have with the wingers and in other positions,” he said.

“And the fact the players are playing at that level. Viktor comes in and makes a great impact in the game - and it only makes us better.”

Jesus turns up the pressure on Gyokeres

But while this competition for places and offensive versatility is a nice problem for Arteta to have, it doesn’t bode so well on a personal basis for Gyokeres, who is facing the reality of losing his starting spot.

“Everyone wants to start,” Gabriel Jesus told Amazon Prime. “I am a very respectful guy. I am not a kid anymore, I am 28, so I understand football.

“I am very happy Vik came on and scored a goal. I am so happy I scored and Vik scored. I am confident Kai will score when he gets the chance.”

Indeed, with Havertz tentatively returning after a knee problem of his own and Gabriel Jesus looking like he’s never been away, Gyokeres’ monopoly of the No.9 spot at Arsenal looks over.

How much he gets to play in the future will now be directly correlated to how well he plays – and that means beginning to find the net on a more regular basis.

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