Viktor Gyokeres wasn’t the only striker Arsenal wanted to sign in 2025.
The Gunners had been in need of a new centre-forward for several years. They were without a prolific number nine since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left the club.
After links to several strikers across the continent, Arsenal struck a deal to sign Gyokeres in the summer transfer window.
Before he came into consideration, the North Londoners tried to sign another forward, Ollie Watkins.
If you could go back in time and sign another striker for Arsenal instead of Viktor Gyokeres, who would it be and why?
Mikel Arteta says Ollie Watkins is one of the best strikers in the Premier League
Watkins was on Arsenal’s radar for a long time.
The Englishman used to be a Gooner growing up, and he has admitted that in public on plenty of occasions in the past.
Despite his love for the Premier League leaders, Watkins has hurt Arsenal many times over the years, and he scored at the Emirates on Tuesday night as well.
But apart from his goal and a big chance in the first half, the Gunners contained the Aston Villa striker fairly well.
Arteta, who tried to sign Watkins in January 2025, is a big fan of the England international.
After the 4-1 win against Villa, the Arsenal manager praised Gabriel Magalhaes for dealing with Watkins, who he thinks is among the best strikers in the division.
He told Arsenal.com: “That’s again down to preparation and mentality. He (Gabriel) has been out for six weeks, that’s a lot at this level.
“Then to play against a team like this, with open spaces, with one of the best strikers in the league (Watkins), constantly pinning you and dragging you into the wrong areas, is very difficult to do, and on top of that, he scored the goal.”
Choose one for Arsenal – Viktor Gyokeres or Ollie Watkins?
Viktor Gyokeres can learn one trait from Ollie Watkins
When he’s in red-hot form, Watkins is definitely one of the best strikers in the Premier League.
The Englishman’s movement behind the opposition’s last line is simply incredible. As Arteta said, he drags defenders to places they don’t want to go, and that opens up space for everyone.
Viktor Gyokeres’ movement behind the last man is not bad, but he can definitely learn a thing or two from Watkins to exploit opposition defences.
However, the Arsenal striker plays against low blocks way more than the Aston Villa star, so his priority has to be on improving his movement inside the box.
If he can do that, we are convinced that Gyokeres will score plenty of goals in the second half of the season.
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