Summer 2025 Transfer Window: Page 31 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Summer 2025 Transfer Window

Don Pacifico

banduan I'm fine with Gyokeres being targetted. Sure, he doesn't have Sesko's or Ekitike's upside but at least he's not gonna be a project player.

The more I think of this notion that Gyokeres isn't a project and that therefore counts in his favour, the more I question how valid that is. Sesko/Ekitike have been playing in a much higher quality league and fundamentally, whilst they haven't reached their peak, simply not having a valid CF option has been our core issue. The narrative in January was that we needed someone, rather than the perfect option.

Personally, I'd rather invest in someone whose ceiling is higher, even if it's contingent on unrealised potential.

Qwiss

Don Pacifico they are playing in a higher quality league but they are scoring significantly less. Ultimately all of these players are a risk. Gyokeres could be the next Darwin Nunez but Sesko could be the next Rasmus Hojlund.

I'm not really sure Seskos ceiling is higher than Gyokeres anyway. Feels to me like gambling Gyokeres can hit the ground running and be a 20 goal striker now or get Sesko and hope he's a 20 goal striker in 2 years.

awooga83

Qwiss I haven't followed him in depth but I know he's got quite a few penalties baked into his numbers. That's not to say they're invalid but 30 goals in the league with 12 penalties would leave me somewhat uncertain as to how that translates to a higher quality league.

Don Pacifico

Qwiss you may be right, I just don't have any more faith that he translates that form to the PL versus comparable outlay from Sesko/Ekitike etc. Not a single Primeira Liga golden boot winner from the last 20 years has ever proved to be a reliable goalscorer in a top European league.

Being honest, there's probably a bit of ego influencing my perspective. We've had some of the best forwards in world football in our front line, players that really make us proud to be Arsenal fans and do magical things that make other fans jealous. On top of that, I don't just want another 'system' player because the system will break down from time-to-time (as we've seen enough times now) and then we're up shit creek watching sterile football. We need more game-changers. Maybe I'm asking for the impossible but I just don't see Gyokeres satisfying my (debatably unreasonable) demands.

Gazza M

Burnwinter the main upside i see is that he would create more left sided overloads. I can see him sucking 2-3 players over to that side of the pitch, which will open up our right side to do their thing

Big Willie

Gazza M not if we continue playing how we normally do. No matter who is at RW or LW we tend to go right for the majority of the game. When Saka was out we thought things may change but even with Martinelli then being on the right and Trossard on the left we still seemed to heavily favour the right. Again the same in games when we shifted Martinelli left and put Nwaneri on the right we continued to go right. Probably more to do with Odegaard being on the right central area and Rice there in the left central areas andless to do with who is on the wings.

Burnwinter

Gazza M He looks like he would create menace which is what we've missed over that side. The tumult we see whenever Saka is over the ball. So has Martinelli during our last few matches, but then having both options could be good. A persistent threat from the left, as well as a stable presence at 6, could unlock Ødegaard's influence again.

Gurgen

I think Gyokeres is guaranteed to score more goals for us than any of our current options. Whether the other strikers we are linked to can top that I don't know. Some of them certainly have the talent. But it's all insecure. We just have to get someone and hope he works out. Enough fking around with midfielders up front.

Qwiss

awooga83 is he winning a lot of those penalties though?

Klaus

To reiterate the point that Gyökeres is not a poacher, have a look at his stats from this season - in addition to the goals he also creates more chances per game than any other striker on the market:

This correlates to how he's been playing for the national team where he has outscored, out-assisted and generally outperformed all other offensive players, including Isak.

DāftYoda

Qwiss

Just checking https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/viktor-gyokeres/elfmetertore/spieler/325443 for the 24/25 season (including penalties taken for the national team and various cup games), he's won 6 out of the 19 penalties he's scored, so nearly a third.

samthegooner

I'm far more on board with Gyokeres at the rumored prices (60-70m) than I was when it seemed like he would only move for his release clause of 100m. I think his floor is much higher than Ekitike and Sesko, which would definitely help us in the next few years as we chase real trophies with this squad. Sesko and Ekitike may have a higher ceiling with their age but it's hard for me to imagine either one of them doing what Gyokeres is doing in the Portuguese League, even if it is lower competition. There is something to be said for having the mindset to just be a ruthless goal scorer - we saw it with Suarez in the Eredivisie and I had my doubts about him coming to Liverpool. But like Gyokeres, I think he also had a high floor in that you knew that he would at the very least, score goals when he got the opportunity to finish. We need ball strikers in this team and Gyokeres certainly has that in spades - I've seen very few clips of him where he isn't making great contact with the ball with either foot and I'd love to have a player with that ability in the box for us.

MistaT

samthegooner -- the floor vs ceiling is an interesting argument at this point in our team's development.

I think quite a few people here posit that we need only top quality players to raise the team quality. But there is something to be said about how well the team has been built that a steadier force at CF (with a high floor) would improve Martinelli, Odegaard, etc. more so than a enigmatic high ceiling CF.

I also have to think that Gyokeres looks ready built for Odegaard through balls. We've seen Odegaard tail off this season but he's screaming for a determined runner ahead of him.

Qwiss

Don Pacifico Not a single Primeira Liga golden boot winner from the last 20 years has ever proved to be a reliable goalscorer in a top European league.

TBF most of them were scooped up after one good season. Gyokeres has had 2. Its obviously a risk but there are plenty of big successes from that league too. And its not like the Bundesliga hasn't had plenty of strikers that moved to the PL too. The reality is you just don't know and you have take a punt on someone. My preference list goes Isak > Ekitike > Gyokeres > Sesko. I'd probably throw Watkins in around the same place as Gyokeres too but that deal looks to be gone now. If we sign any of the 5 I'd be fine with it. We need to take that risk on someone, Mikel and Berta will have a better idea about the strengths and weaknesses than I would so they just need to get whoever they think fits best.

I do think Gyokeres is a game changer though, assuming he doesn't flop. He's the sort of player who can score when the system does break down. Has a bit of that Aubameyang score from the only chance of the game energy. And I think he has the physicality to do the other stuff Arteta wants too. He's 6' 2 and powerful with it, he can do the Havertz work.

samthegooner

Personally, I don't think Gyokeres would be much of a system player. He's got more footballing ability than this forum is giving him credit for in my opinion. He looks to take players on when he gets the ball and runs at players nonstop throughout the game, as we saw in our CL game against them. Yes, some of his success is definitely due to the lower level of defending he plays against in most games in the league but I like his drive and willingness to push the tempo himself. I also think his willingness to shoot is much needed in our squad. Defenders will need to be very alert now since he doesn't need much space to get his shot off and can really lace it with a short backlift. I love Sesko's ball striking but his tall frame precludes him from shooting as quickly as Gyokeres seems able to do. I also think his hunger to score goals is badly needed in the squad. We need someone who is going to make those extra runs on the off chance he gets the ball in a scoring opportunity or is willing to sacrifice his body to get on the end of ball in the box.

Don Pacifico

samthegooner you're right that the mere fact that he takes any opportunity to shoot will have its upside but the main bit I worry about is his ability on the ball in tight spaces/a packed box. I've seen a lot of take-ons from him from deep/on the counter but I've yet to see anything that convinces me he can break through the low block beyond putting himself about in the 6 yard box when we're slinging crosses in.

Qwiss The reality is you just don't know and you have take a punt on someone.

For sure but he's the bottom of my list from the players regularly linked/discussed. Would rather Watkins over him if we're going for that age profile.

USArsenal

Anyone we get is going to be a gamble, even if it was Isak. For all we know, we could get someone and then they could tear their ACL in the second game of the season and be out for 5 or 6 months, then we are right back where we were (albeit with Havertz back). Whoever we get is going to have to become a pressing monster like the rest of our team is, and that will make it more difficult for them. I would spend big for Isak if he was available (but he probably isnt). Otherwise, lets get someone who can be pretty good for us. Thats what we need.

lorddulaarsenal

I get the Gyokeres is boring vibe, but I doubt we’d get bored of him finding net as often as he would. We haven’t had a striker in his mould in goodness knows how long.

Qwiss

Don Pacifico I like Watkins but he's 29 vs Gyokeres being 26. They're not the same age profile.

samthegooner

Don Pacifico I somewhat agree but I also don't think we've seen a lot from Sesko that says he can break through the low block beyond putting himself in the 6 yard box when slinging crosses in or hitting shots from outside the box. Ekitike certainly has more skill on the ball but everything I've read and seen about him highlights his lack of strength for his frame, which does worry me coming into the EPL. I like how decisive Gyokeres is in his movements - it doesn't always come off but he knows what he wants to do when he gets the ball and he does it quickly. Just having someone in the 9 role that knows where the goal is and can finish opportunities in the box reliably would be a huge improvement on our current state. I also love seeing how he interchanges with Isak in the Swedish NT. I could see him and Havertz co-existing beautifully. The other thing I've noticed with more focused watching of Gyokeres is that he could definitely lead our press well - he works extremely hard and would be great at the top of the press with some coaching on angles/shadow marking.

Claudius

I watched Gyokeres against Arsenal. I just remember he was a handful for our defenders that day. He’s very physical like Havertz, but with more power and a savage shot. If he’s definitely available, I’d rather take him and solidify the squad than muck about all summer with Isak.

Also he may be in a bit of a shit league, but he has scored a lot of goals last few seasons and has looked good in Europe as well. We’d get a player who allows us to keep our shape, and has the ability to press

Segway

Claudius Agree. I also only watched him against us and City and was positively surprised. He was a real menace and ran the defenders for the full 90 so I don't think you can just dismiss him for playing in Portugal. I get the reservations though and was a sceptic myself before I watched him play.

lorddulaarsenal

As Klaus highlighted, he scores different types of goals. An indicator that he can find solutions.

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