Arsenal fans don’t have much to complain about at the moment, but their patience is wearing thin after watching one of Mikel Arteta’s men struggle against Liverpool.
The two sides settled on a 0-0 draw at the Emirates after the visitors put in an assured defensive performance.
The Gunners spurned the chance to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table against Arne Slot’s side, who were dealing with several absentees. Arteta’s men did have sights at goal through attempts from Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice in the first half.
But it was a toothless display from the league leaders that again raises question marks about a lack of a prolific goalscorer in Arteta’s side. The club’s transfer chiefs looked to amend this issue in the summer, but the jury is out on one of their most expensive acquisitions.
Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool: Gyokeres Goes Missing
Arsenal splashed the cash on Viktor Gyokeres in July 2025, paying £64 million to Sporting CP to bring him to the Emirates. The Swedish striker was one of the top goalscorers in European football last season and struck a hat-trick in the Champions League against Manchester City.
Many envisioned Gyokeres becoming the potent number nine that Arteta had long been crying out for but that hasn’t been the case. The 27-year-old has made a slow start to life in the Premier League with the North Londoners and there’s an argument he’s their worst summer signing.
Gyokeres was kept quiet throughout his 64 minutes on the pitch, getting just eight touches of the ball. He didn’t register a single shot and Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate had little trouble dealing with the Swede.
It was another disappointing outing from Gyokeres, who has managed five goals in 19 league appearances. Gary Neville summed it up on Sky Sports commentary when he came off for Gabriel Jesus:
“Ineffective, a really poor night… He has to do more.”
Arteta has shown he is prepared to make brave calls and drop players no matter their status, including offloading Aaron Ramsdale and replacing him with David Raya. If Gyokeres continues to falter, he surely has no choice but to wield the axe on the former Brighton & Hove Albion frontman.
Jesus is back from injury and links up well with Saka, and this could be the way forward for the Gunners in their title charge. Kai Havertz is another option when fully fit, and the German bulked up ahead of this season to try and keep his place in the team.
Arsenal Fans Reach Boiling Point Over Gyokeres
When Gyokeres signed for Arsenal, he was handed the number 14 shirt made famous by all-time top goalscorer Thierry Henry. The Frenchman, who is arguably the greatest player in Premier League history, was a magical forward who had fans off their feet everytime he got the ball.
Gyokeres, donning the same shirt number, can’t get a hold of the ball, and when he does, he’s been wasteful. His performance tonight had the Gunners’ fanbase fuming and questioning his signing.
One fan wants to know who proposed bringing him to the Emirates:
“At the end of the season, whoever signed Gyokeres to Arsenal must be sacked or relieved of their duties.”
Henry played a lead role in Arsenal’s Invincibles season in 2004. Another supporter reckons winning the title this season with Gyokeres leading the line would be on par with that feat:
“My biggest takeaway from this half is that Arsenal winning the league with Gyokeres up top would be up there with the Invincibles achievement and therefore merit a second gold trophy.”
One gave a grim verdict:
“Gyokeres is one of the worst strikers I’ve ever seen play for Arsenal.”
Another has started to lose faith:
“Gyokeres I can’t keep defending you, look more lively in the box.”
One went on a tirade about the Swede:
“Gyokeres offers absolutely no advantages to Arsenal on the pitch. Does not attack space, does not offer anything in buildup, and is never there in the box.Arsenal are essentially playing with a man down with him.”