Viktor Gyökeres Under Pressure: Arsenal’s Striker Faces Criticism Amid Team Struggles and Fan Frustration

Viktor Gyökeres and the Arsenal Dilemma: Striker Under Scrutiny as Title Hopes Waver

It was meant to be a season of redemption for Arsenal, a campaign to finally end the 22-year wait for Premier League glory. Yet as December 2025 unfolds, the mood around the Emirates is one of anxiety and debate, with new signing Viktor Gyökeres caught at the heart of the storm.

Gyökeres Raises Concerns Over Arsenal’s Creativity

After Arsenal’s agonizing 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa—sealed by a last-gasp goal from Emi Buendia—Gyökeres didn’t mince words. Speaking to The Mirror, the Swedish forward urged his teammates to show more invention in attack. “We have to keep creating chances and get shots on goal because then you’ll eventually score more goals,” he said, reflecting on a match that saw the Gunners struggle to break down Villa’s defense.

Gyökeres’ comments resonate with the numbers. Since recovering from a muscle injury in November, he’s been relegated to a substitute’s role, and his tally—six goals in 17 appearances—hasn’t lived up to the electric standards he set in Portugal with Sporting CP, where he scored 52 goals in 49 matches last season. The drop-off has not gone unnoticed among supporters, many of whom are beginning to question whether Arsenal’s attack has lost its edge.

Fan Frustration: Comparing Strikers Past and Present

As Gyökeres fights to regain his scoring touch, a new wave of frustration has swept across Arsenal’s fanbase. The catalyst? Former Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, now at Crystal Palace, scored in a 2-1 win over Fulham. The sight of a once-overlooked Gunner thriving elsewhere reignited old debates about the club’s transfer policies and their ability to nurture goal-scoring talent.

“Nketiah is a better striker than Gyökeres, but we’re not ready for that conversation yet,” posted one fan, echoing the sentiment on social media and in forums. The club’s recent history doesn’t help; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette also left the Emirates to find success elsewhere. Some fans are even questioning whether manager Mikel Arteta’s tactical approach is squeezing the best out of his forwards, or if Arsenal’s system stifles their potential.

Arsenal’s striker woes are compounded by underwhelming performances from other big names. Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, both signed with high hopes, have struggled to deliver consistently. With Manchester City closing the gap at the top of the league and Aston Villa nipping at their heels, the need for a reliable finisher has never been more urgent.

Injuries and Internal Tensions: A Club Under Strain

But Gyökeres’ struggle is not happening in isolation. Arsenal’s recent stutter in form—just two wins in their last five league matches—has coincided with a string of injuries to key players. Defenders Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, and Cristhian Mosquera are all sidelined. Midfield dynamo Kai Havertz has missed much of the campaign, while Gyökeres, Odegaard, and Gabriel Jesus have each spent time in the treatment room.

Jurrien Timber, Arsenal’s right-back, gave voice to the impact of these absences in a revealing interview with Republic World. “We can’t play every week with the same players, and if players go out again, it’s tough,” he admitted. Timber praised the squad’s depth, but acknowledged that frequent changes disrupt rhythm and cohesion—factors that often go unnoticed until results begin to slip.

Meanwhile, the pressure cooker atmosphere at the club boiled over during the Villa defeat. Cameras caught Declan Rice shouting at captain Martin Odegaard after the latter hesitated in a crucial defensive moment, failing to close down Ian Maatsen seconds before the winning goal. Odegaard’s lapse—watching as Boubacar Kamara surged into the box—left supporters and pundits alike questioning leadership and mentality in high-stakes moments.

Gyökeres’ Challenge: Can He Turn the Tide?

With the Premier League title race tighter than ever, Arsenal must find answers quickly. Gyökeres, still acclimatizing to the pace and pressure of English football, faces a dual challenge: rediscover his goal-scoring instincts and help ignite a more creative, ruthless attacking approach. His own words—“If we focus on what we can control and do in our favour and focus on the next game, we’ll be better, I think”—suggest a measured optimism, but the clock is ticking.

The upcoming fixtures are relentless, and the margin for error is shrinking. Arsenal travel to Club Brugge for a crucial Champions League tie, then return to domestic action against Wolves. For Gyökeres, these matches represent both a test and an opportunity—a chance to silence doubters and prove he can shoulder the responsibility that comes with leading the line for a club with sky-high ambitions.

Yet, as winter sets in and the fixture list intensifies, the questions around Arsenal’s attack won’t disappear overnight. Gyökeres is not alone in his struggle, but as the most visible symbol of the team’s evolving identity, his form will be scrutinized more than most. Can he answer the call, or will Arsenal’s search for a true marksman continue into another uncertain year?

Assessment: The facts reveal a club in transition, with Viktor Gyökeres embodying both the promise and the pressure of Arsenal’s ambitions. While injuries and tactical challenges have contributed to the recent slump, the Swede’s ability to adapt—and respond to criticism—could prove decisive in the weeks ahead. Whether he emerges as the solution or becomes another name in the long list of strikers who struggled at the Emirates will depend on his response to adversity and the team’s collective resolve.