- Troy Deeney says Arsenal players don’t fully trust Viktor Gyokeres in attack.
- Gyokeres joined Arsenal from Sporting Lisbon for £63m after scoring 97 in 102 games.
- He has two goals so far, both against Leeds, but struggled versus Liverpool and Man United.
- Deeney criticizes his hold-up play and doubts his ability against “Big Six” teams.
- Believes Havertz will reclaim the striker role once fit, as Arteta prefers him.
Viktor Gyokeres’ big-money move to Arsenal is already drawing skepticism, with former Watford captain Troy Deeney insisting the Swedish forward lacks the trust of his teammates and may soon lose his spot once Kai Havertz returns.
Signed from Sporting Lisbon for over £63 million after a prolific spell in Portugal where he netted 97 goals in 102 matches, Gyokeres arrived with a reputation as a deadly finisher. But his early Premier League outings have left questions hanging. He has scored only twice — both against Leeds in a one-sided 5–1 victory — while struggling to make an impact against Manchester United and Liverpool.
Arsenal’s 1–0 loss at Anfield highlighted their lack of creativity up front, with critics pointing out that Gyokeres was easily neutralized. Deeney argued that while the striker thrives when running behind defenders, his teammates often avoid passing to him — not because they can’t, but because they don’t fully trust him to deliver.
Comparing him to Havertz, Deeney claimed Arsenal’s midfielders show more confidence in the German forward, who offers link-up play and versatility that Gyokeres has yet to demonstrate. He described Gyokeres’ hold-up play as “poor,” adding that although he may rack up goals against weaker sides, he has not proven himself in high-pressure clashes against top opposition.
Deeney further suggested that once Havertz recovers from injury, Mikel Arteta will likely restore him as Arsenal’s first-choice striker, as his familiarity with the squad gives him an edge. For now, Gyokeres still has the chance to silence critics — but only by consistently finding the net.
