Gabriel Agbonlahor has predicted that Viktor Gyökeres will be sold by Arsenal before next season, after the striker started the latest win over Everton. The pundit’s comments land at a time when Arsenal’s failed summer pursuit of Julián Álvarez has already sharpened the debate over Mikel Arteta’s long-term No.9. According to Caughtoffside.com.
Agbonlahor predicts Gyökeres exit as Álvarez miss fuels Arsenal doubts
Speaking on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor was withering about Gyökeres’ mobility against Everton, describing the Sweden international’s display in blunt terms: “Looks like he can’t run.” He accepted the forward can hold the ball up, but insisted he will not be at the club next season.
His case rests largely on the failed summer pursuit. Agbonlahor argued that Arsenal “would have got rid of him this season if they could have for [Julian] Alvarez”, and suggested they would have offered Gyökeres plus money had the Argentine been willing to join.
Sky Sports confirmed Arsenal tried to sign Álvarez during the summer before the Argentine remained at Atlético Madrid. The attempt suggests Arteta was looking for another elite attacker to lift his forward line, which is why the Gyökeres question carries more weight now than it might otherwise have done.
Gyökeres has now scored 21 goals and provided five assists in 65 Arsenal appearances since his £63.5million move from Sporting CP, TEAMtalk reports. He started the latest victory over Everton and was involved in Ezri Konsa’s opener, yet his overall performance again left questions over whether he is the long-term No.9 Arteta needs.
There is still a case in his favour, as Gyökeres offers physicality, pressing and penalty-box movement. The counterpoint is that Arsenal need consistency against the strongest opponents, and the coming months could show whether he is viewed as a long-term striker or a useful option until a more complete forward arrives.
