Viktor Gyökeres has barely kicked a ball in the Premier League, but he’s already become one of the most debated signings of the summer. Arsenal’s new striker has been under the microscope since his debut at Old Trafford, with pundits wasting no time giving their verdicts.
Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf was quick to criticise Arsenal’s decision after just 60 minutes of football, and he wasn’t alone. The early scrutiny is hardly surprising, though, given Gyökeres arrives in England carrying one of Europe’s most lethal scoring records.
Richards Backs Gyökeres to Shine
While some are quick to doubt him, Micah Richards has publicly backed the Swedish forward to prove his worth. Speaking to FootballJOE, the former Manchester City man predicted Gyökeres will score 21 Premier League goals this season.
“Twenty-one goals, I’m telling you. He’s a threat — good in the air, runs in behind, he can finish,” Richards said.
The £64 million striker certainly has the numbers to support that claim. Since the start of the 2023/24 season, Gyökeres has scored an astonishing 97 domestic goals, a figure that convinced Arsenal to bring him in as their new No. 14.
Not Everyone Convinced
But not every pundit shares Richards’ confidence. TNT Sports asked their panel whether Gyökeres would score 20+ goals this season — and most said no.
Peter Crouch disagreed with the prediction, while commentator Darren Fletcher was even more direct:
“Absolutely not. To score 20 goals in the Premier League is difficult anyway, and there are a lot of questions about Gyökeres.”
Presenter Lynsey Hipgrave also echoed those doubts, suggesting he’ll reach double figures but not the 20-goal mark.
Former England midfielder Joe Cole, however, sided with Richards:
“I agree, he’ll score 20+, I just don’t think it’ll be enough to bring the title to Arsenal.”
The Weight of Expectation
Few strikers in recent years have been judged so quickly in the Premier League. After just an hour of action, Gyökeres has already been written off in some corners — but if his record in Portugal and Sweden is anything to go by, he’s more than capable of silencing the critics.
The question now is simple: will Gyökeres match Micah Richards’ bold 21-goal prediction, or will his doubters be proved right?
