Gyokeres on the Brink of Exit: Arsenal Urged to Emulate the Courage of Letting Zinchenko Go
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- Viktor Gyokeres kembali tampil tak meyakinkan saat Arsenal mengalahkan Ipswich 4-2, memperkuat spekulasi masa depannya di Emirates.
- Kai Havertz telah menggeser posisi Gyokeres dengan catatan lari 44,5 km dalam empat laga, hampir 3 km lebih jauh dari penyerang terdekat di Liga Primer.
- Manajemen Arsenal disebut perlu mengulang keputusan tegas seperti saat melepas Oleksandr Zinchenko demi mendatangkan penyerang yang lebih cocok dengan sistem Mikel Arteta.
Viktor Gyokeres is facing huge pressure after again producing a minimal contribution in Arsenal's 4-2 win over Ipswich Town on Tuesday night. The Swedish striker recorded only 18 touches—fewer than goalkeeper David Raya—and lost three of four aerial duels, sparking questions over whether he still deserves to be the Gunners' main spearhead.
Since arriving for £63 million from Sporting CP, Gyokeres did become a key man with 21 goals in his first season. This season, however, he appears to have lost his sharpness. In last week's match against Napoli, none of Arsenal's 26 shots came from Gyokeres' boot. He touched the ball only nine times and completed five passes.
Manager Mikel Arteta is known as someone who does not hesitate to make difficult decisions. His decision to replace Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya and move on from Emile Smith Rowe initially sparked controversy but proved correct. Something similar happened when he let Oleksandr Zinchenko go after three seasons—a move now considered brilliant because Riccardo Calafiori has shone at left-back.
Kai Havertz has taken over the main role up front. The German forward is not only diligent in pressing but also effective in building attacks. His running tally of 44.5 km in four matches shows a work ethic far beyond Gyokeres. This difference in style is the main reason Arteta prefers Havertz, especially when Arsenal face opponents defending in a low block.
"Technically, the three best players in my opinion are Zinchenko, Riyad Mahrez, and Bernardo Silva. Zinchenko is incredible," said Kyle Walker, Zinchenko's former Manchester City teammate, describing the Ukrainian defender's technical quality. However, Zinchenko's defensive weaknesses led to his exit, and now Gyokeres faces a similar fate because he does not fit Arsenal's system.
Arsenal were not actually short of chances. Against Ipswich, Max Dowman and Noni Madueke repeatedly broke down the opposition defence, but Gyokeres looked isolated and frustrated. He rarely moved to find space, was not strong holding the ball, and was barely involved in short passing combinations. Criticism also points to a mismatch of role: Gyokeres is more effective using through balls behind the defence, while Arsenal often have to break down a packed defence.
Even so, there is an argument that Arsenal do not play a style that benefits Gyokeres. But the demand for a bigger contribution remains. Rio Ferdinand once highlighted Zinchenko's weakness in one-on-one duels, and now similar criticism is aimed at Gyokeres, who is considered insufficiently aggressive in the penalty box.
If this situation continues, it is not impossible that Gyokeres will end this season as a backup striker, or even leave. Arsenal were reportedly trying to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid last summer but failed. A similar move is expected to be repeated in the January transfer window, with Gyokeres as the victim.
For Arsenal fans in Indonesia, this saga is a reminder that patience among management in Europe's top leagues is very limited. On-pitch performance is the main currency. If Gyokeres does not quickly rediscover his sharpness, he could follow Zinchenko as the next victim of Arteta's decisiveness. Will Arsenal move quickly in the winter market, or give Gyokeres one last chance until the end of the season?
