Last week was definitely the most sublimated period in Viktor Gyokeres' career since joining Arsenal. The £64 million striker has made a strong mark in both the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League, contributing greatly to helping the team maintain ambitions on both fronts.
However, amidst his rising personal form, Gyokeres' future in the main squad is still questioned, as coach Mikel Arteta is said to be targeting Julian Alvarez for the center forward position. This raises the question, is Gyokeres really the solution for Arsenal's attack, or does the Emirates home team still need more replacements?
Gyokeres is expected to be the missing piece in Arsenal's attack when he joined Sporting in July last year. This is the type of goalscorer that Arteta's team has lacked in many consecutive seasons of second place in the Premier League.
In two seasons in Lisbon, the Swedish striker scored 68 goals in 66 matches in the domestic league - a superior achievement compared to any other player in the top 10 European leagues. Although not many people expected him to maintain that performance in a harsh environment like English football, the difficulties Gyokeres encountered in the first half of the season still caused no small surprise.
Arteta believes that the difficult initial period of his student partly stems from the lack of adequate preparation due to the prolonged transfer process. However, the problem does not seem to be just physical fitness or ball feel.
In fact, Gyokeres shows slowness and lack of flexibility in many situations, and also reveals limitations in his ability to play defensively and hold the ball - a factor that makes it difficult for him to connect with the satellites around him.
However, Gyokeres' impressive form came at a time that could not be more favorable, both for Arsenal and for himself. The Swedish striker made an important contribution to helping Arteta's team overcome the period of decline, return to the Premier League title race and go deep in the Champions League.
With what he has shown, Gyokeres is likely to start in the match against Atletico Madrid, although there is still a view that he may have to give way if Kai Havertz recovers in time.
The decision to prioritize Havertz in the key match against Manchester City last month partly reflects Arteta's tactical view, as the German striker is rated higher in pressing ability and playing alignment. However, considering the entire season, long-term dependence on Havertz is a potentially risky option, similar to the situation of Gabriel Jesus, who is likely to leave Emirates.
In that context, Arsenal is almost certain to look for a new striker in the 2026 summer transfer window. The question is whether they will choose a long-term option like Eli Junior Kroupi or Endrick, or prioritize a striker who has established a name like Alvarez or Victor Osimhen to create an immediate impact.
That makes the end of the season particularly important for Gyokeres. For the Swedish striker, the remaining matches of the season may give the clearest answer to Arsenal's attacking problem.
