Viktor Gyokeres isn’t scoring enough for Arsenal, but the Gunners have just made an additional payment to Sporting CP for their striker.
Sporting CP didn’t want Gyokeres to leave for less than €100m, but Arsenal got a deal worth £64m over the line.
Though Gyokeres has impressed in some areas, where he’s lacking is where he’s needed most: goals.
The Swede has scored only five Premier League goals in Arsenal’s opening 20 fixtures, most recently failing to find the net against Bournemouth.
Even though Gyokeres fired just one shot on goal at the Vitality Stadium, the game required the Gunners to send Sporting CP additional funds for the striker.
Given his stats, how much do you think would’ve been a suitable price for Viktor Gyokeres?
Arsenal have made an additional payment to Sporting CP for Viktor Gyokeres
As Football London shared, Arsenal are now expected to pay Sporting CP an extra £1m for Gyokeres due to one of the add-ons in the deal being activated.
Part of the agreement was that every time Gyokeres makes 20 appearances where he’s featured for more than 45 minutes, Arsenal pay the Portuguese champions £1.08m.
Against Bournemouth, the add-on was triggered, as the Swede played 66 minutes to take him over the 20-appearance mark with 45+ minutes.
It seems like a wild clause, given that Gyokeres has signed a contract until 2030, but rest assured, Arsenal’s payments are understood to be capped at £4.3m.
The fee Arsenal paid for Gyokeres already looks high because of his poor form since making the move, but it’s rising.
Mikel Arteta says Viktor Gyokeres has been extraordinary at Arsenal
Even before Gyokeres arrived, everyone knew that the striker would take some time to adapt.
The difference between the Premier League and the Liga Portugal is astronomical, and Mikel Arteta knows it.
Fill in the blank: Arsenal are a ___________________ team when Viktor Gyokeres starts…
Is the Swede making Mikel Arteta's team better or worse?
Though Arteta has no sympathy for the pressure on Gyokeres, because of the spotlight that comes with being Arsenal’s striker, the boss is happy with his signing.
“Viktor? Very good,” Arteta told Sky Sports.
The Arsenal manager added, “Ok, he can score more goals, but all the other aspects are extraordinary.”
Given the nature of how Arsenal play in attack, the goals are shared, so what Gyokeres is doing appeals to his boss.
Of course, fans want more goals, which surely we’ll see as time progresses and the forward becomes more comfortable.
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