Arsenal Invincible who ‘regretted’ leaving points Viktor Gyokeres switch message

An Arsenal Invincible has spoken out on Viktor Gyokeres’ future as the Sweden striker struggles for minutes. The 29-year-old has started just one Premier League game so far this season and has been utilised more in Carabao Cup fixtures and against weaker Champions League sides.

Mikel Arteta hoped that Gyokeres would be the answer to his side finally winning the title when he eventually added a striker to his side in a £63.5million move from Sporting.

While Arsenal did win the league for the first time in over 20 years, and reach the Champions League final, Gyokeres was a largely unreliable figure to lead the line and lost his place to Kai Havertz at the end of the season.

And Gyokeres shows no sign of winning his place back after coming off the bench again for the sixth time in 10 league games last time out against Hull, having only started one and been an unused substitute three times.

Gyokeres did find the net in the Carabao Cup humiliation to Fleetwood and against Slavia Prague, but it’s hardly the heights that he and Gunners’ fans hoped he would produce.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sport, via IgnitionCasino, Jeremie Aliadiere put his faith behind Gyokeres despite Arsenal playing a different system to the one in which Gyokeres scored 97 times in 102 games in Portugal

Aliadiere said: “I like Gyokeres. You have to remember Havertz was out for a lot of last season and Gyokeres came in and did well for the team. Scored goals and contributed well and enabled others to score as well.

“He does prefer the ball played to him quicker, Arsenal do play a different style to that of Lisbon, but he has adapted well, but maybe suited to a team playing to a style where he gets more of the ball.

“However, I think he does have a big future at Arsenal as it’s a team game and while Arsenal are winning, you don’t want to ruin a winning formula. And you look elsewhere and where is another striker of Gyokeres physique who is proven at this level.”

Aliadiere previously told the Daily Star Sport how he forced a move from Arsenal because of a lack of opportunities in the first team, making a move to fellow Premier League club Middlesbrough.

However, the Frenchman admitted he regretted leaving as the game became more rotation-heavy and the extension of seven substitutes on the bench, rather than just three.

And Aliadiere insisted that despite Gyokeres being down the pecking order at 29, where he might have one last big move in him, the Swede shouldn’t even be considering leaving.

“You’re at a club top of the Premier League and gunning for back-to-back titles,” he said. “You’re in a great place in the Champions League. Why on earth would you want to leave when more trophies can be possible.

“You need a few good strikers in the squad to handle all the games and Arsenal are doing it right. So I do not see Gyokeres forcing a move in January at all.

“Unless Arsenal believe they feel they can upgrade, then it’s a possibility, but in January, I don’t see it as it will change the dimension of the group and this is a very together group of players.”