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Arsenal have one major Viktor Gyokeres doubt, and £85m deal proves they are right

Lucas Arnold

Wed 25 June 2025 18:15, UK

Faced with a choice between signing either Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko this summer, a lot of Arsenal fans are favouring the Swede.

By all accounts, Arsenal are in ‘win now’ mode during the summer transfer window — new sporting director Andrea Berta isn’t intending to buy players for their potential.

Arsenal recognise that their project has hit a pivotal moment when they simply need to win the trophies that their football often deserves.

Of course, that’s why Arsenal are signing Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad — he’s already one of Europe’s best holding midfielders.

And to back that up, Arsenal also want Christian Norgaard from Brentford, another player who will contribute immediately.

Moreover, that’s why Viktor Gyokeres is favoured over Sesko by so many — he’s already the finished article.

Viktor Gyokeres has doubters at Arsenal for one key reason

However, there is one concern about signing Gyokeres at Arsenal this summer, as detailed by in their in-depth look at the Gunners’ window so far.

27-year-old Gyokeres has an incredible goalscoring record in recent seasons, he’s netted 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting CP ever since his switch to Portugal back in 2023.

READ MORE: Christian Norgaard already named the ‘fantastic’ Arsenal player he’ll be excited to play with after £9m bid

But Arsenal are still concerned about Gyokeres’ ability to make the step up from Portugal’s Primeira Liga.

Arsenal recognise internally that playing in Portugal is a completely different proposition to the Premier League, even if the Sweden international scored 39 league goals last term.

Of course, Gyokeres did also score a serious amount of goals for Coventry City too before he left England.

Gyokeres netted 21 goals in 46 Championship games in his final season at Coventry, and his all-round performances helped the side to a play-off final.

Darwin Nunez’s struggles at Liverpool don’t bode well for Viktor Gyokeres

Perhaps the most useful comparison for Arsenal to make is how Darwin Nunez fared at Liverpool after his move from Benfica back in 2022.

Before he signed for Liverpool, Nunez scored 34 goals in 41 games for Benfica in his final season, a goal rate he’s been unable to match at Anfield.

That’s not to say that Gyokeres can’t do better in the Premier League himself, but it does back up Arsenal’s concerns about the significant step up between leagues.

Unlike Gyokeres, Sesko has universal backing at Arsenal according to reports, and perhaps that is because he’s coming from a stronger league in the form of the Bundesliga.

And given that Gyokeres will cost a serious amount of money this summer, Arsenal will want to avoid a repeat of Liverpool’s fate with Nunez, a player they’re now trying to sell.