Arsenal were linked with a lot of strikers during the summer transfer window, but elected not to sign a centre-forward.
Mikel Arteta kept faith in the in-form Kai Havertz, as well as Gabriel Jesus, who struggled with injury last season, and also brought in winger Raheem Sterling.
Havertz has been sensational as a central striker, but with Martin Odegaard now injured, the German had to move to a midfield role, and Arsenal lacked firepower in their 0-0 draw away at Atalanta in the Champions League.
One of Arsenal’s striker targets over the summer was Sporting Club De Portugal attacker Viktor Gyokeres, but Arteta decided not to pursue a deal for the 25-year-old.
Unlike Arsenal, Gyokeres scored in his opening Champions League game of the campaign, and has continued his electric form from last season, raising the question of whether he should still be targeted for a move.
Martin Keown and Rio Ferdinand praise Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres
Speaking on TNT Sports ahead of Arsenal’s draw with Atalanta, Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand heaped praise on Gyokeres.
“I don’t know how he was allowed out of England. He scored 52 goals in 57 games since he signed for Sporting from Coventry,” he stated.
“He was top goal scorer last season in that league, top goal scorer again this season and he’s a beast of a human as well, but he’s just developed into a really outstanding player.
“I’m really interested to see how he develops now in the next coming year or two.”
Arsenal Invincible Martin Keown then spoke of the links between Gyokeres and Arsenal, and claimed that he could be Arteta’s answer to Erling Haaland.
“Well there was talk wasn’t there in the summer, but you know they didn’t go after him, but he looks lively, there’s no doubt about that,” Keown stated.
“When you’re playing in the Champions League, there’s always players that just – he’s turned and spun on that one and just put it in the back of the net. Who did that remind you of? A bit of a Haaland about him.”
Viktor Gyokeres could be Arsenal’s answer to Erling Haaland
Arsenal are trying to compete with Manchester City for the Premier League title, but the form of Erling Haaland makes this difficult.
Haaland has scored an astonishing nine goals in four league games this season, and having a goalscorer as lethal as the Norweigan is a game-changer in any title race.
Despite Havertz’s strong form as a striker, he is not a player who can snatch a goal out of limited chances like Haaland, and Gyokeres could be the answer.
His goal against Lille on his Champions League debut saw Gyokeres spin and fire into the bottom corner despite being surrounded by defenders, and having this level of goalscoring ability upfront could be the difference in the title race for Arsenal.
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