Arsenal brought in Victor Gokeres as the missing piece in their title-winning jigsaw – and although they are top of the Premier League, the Swede has yet to be sacked.
The crux of Victor Gokeres’ transfer was now here. And at that point it would have to be said that Arsenal’s £64m summer deal still hasn’t worked.
The keyword remains “yet”. He might come along just fine. He is 27 years old and only a few months into his five-year contract and could be adjusting to life at Arsenal.
However, Arsenal were in need of a player who could play immediately, so they took the Gokeres route, which was favored by sporting director Andrea Berta.
He was called up not only because of his tremendous scoring record and mentality, but also because he was at a stage in his career where he didn’t have to wait. He was bought as an immediate force.
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Arsenal want a trophy now. He was brought in to score goals and help the team break through, which was the crux of his contract.
The previous squad liked Benjamin Sesco and almost signed him in the summer of 2024. The club searched again this summer, but with Sesco young and still developing, they ended up signing Gokeres.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta loves Alexander Isak, but it hasn’t worked out for him yet at Liverpool and the £125m price tag puts even more pressure on him.
They’ve had their eye on Hugo Ekitike in the past – I’d be surprised if they haven’t – and you’d argue he’s the best striker ever to take to the Premier League merry-go-round this summer.
The bigger concern for Gokeres is that Saturday’s game against Wolves felt like a new low. He had little involvement in the match. He never seemed to score, with one shot going wide and another a cross-shot, but neither.
Additionally, gokeres look clumsy, clumsy, and heavy when things go wrong. When he’s on a roll, he definitely looks a little more free-flowing and people assure me he has pace.
But just when he was in great form, scoring goals and playing well for Burnley, he suffered an injury that completely thwarted any progress.
I’ve mentioned before how Arsenal fans are great about Gokeres. They support him and like his industry and work ethic. he stops.
But he was bought to score goals. And even if he isn’t scoring goals, Arsenal must expect him to contribute to the team. Frankly, Arsenal might have been better off playing with 10 men against Wolves.
To be fair to Gokeres, he looks better away from home when leading the attack and shutting down defenders. I think there’s still a player there, he just hasn’t delivered what he promised in the summer. Here and now.
Yes, he missed the preseason and looks like he needs time to get into shape. Even Didier Drogba took a year to see the best from the greatest player in Premier League history.
But now Mikel Arteta faces a dilemma. Dropping Gokeres to Everton would be a statement and hurt his confidence. However, when Gabriel Jesus appeared, he looked more lively.
Kai Havertz is getting fitter and closer to his return. Arteta loves the German forward and feels it is inevitable that he will return soon.
But this goes back to the point that Arsenal shouldn’t have waited for Gokeres. But the reality is that it is.
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