Viktor Gyökeres was handed another start for Arsenal in Saturday evening’s clash against Fulham, but his performance once again left supporters unconvinced.
The Swedish striker came into the game under pressure, having failed to score in his previous six appearances. Lined up in a front three alongside Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka, Gyökeres struggled to make any meaningful impact in the first half.
His lacklustre display will likely leave Mikel Arteta with questions to answer — especially with Kai Havertz reportedly close to returning from injury.
Fan Reaction: “Gyökeres Is Simply Not Good Enough”
Signed from Sporting CP for £63 million in the summer, Gyökeres has managed just three goals in his first ten Arsenal appearances — far from the explosive start many expected.
Against Fulham, the 27-year-old looked toothless for large spells, and Arsenal fans made their feelings known on social media.
“Gyökeres’ technique is atrocious. Like League One level atrocious.” “Gyökeres is genuinely always off balance.” “[Riccardo] Calafiori might be a better nine than Gyökeres.” “Gyökeres is simply not good enough.” One supporter went further, posting: “Gyökeres at Arsenal is that footballer who, if you watch just a tiny clip of him, you might think he is terrible — but after watching him for the full 90 minutes, you realise you’re absolutely right.”
Arteta Must Rethink How He Uses Gyökeres
While Gyökeres is being judged harshly, it’s also fair to say he hasn’t been utilised correctly.
At Sporting, he wasn’t just a penalty-box poacher — he frequently drifted wide, drove at defenders, and linked play with teammates. At Arsenal, however, Arteta has restricted him to a static role focused on waiting for deliveries inside the box.
That approach does not play to his strengths. If Arsenal are to see the best of their £63 million signing, he must be given more freedom to involve himself in build-up play rather than acting solely as a finisher.
If Arteta sticks with the current setup, Gyökeres may continue to struggle — and the pressure from fans will only intensify.
