Former Watford captain Troy Deeney has expressed skepticism over Arsenal’s new signing, Viktor Gyökeres, questioning the striker’s ability to consistently score goals in the English Premier League. Deeney believes that the Swedish forward, who joined Arsenal from Sporting CP for a reported transfer fee of £55 million, may struggle to adapt to the intensity and expectations of the Premier League. He went further to suggest that Kai Havertz, the German international, might be favored to lead the Gunners’ attack instead. Speaking on the situation, Deeney warned Arsenal supporters not to expect Gyökeres to replicate his impressive form from Portugal in England, highlighting that the Premier League presents a completely different challenge compared to the Portuguese league. “I am not convinced Viktor Gyökeres will score as many goals for Arsenal as people think. People underestimate the difference between playing in Portugal and playing for a club like Arsenal, Manchester United, or Liverpool,” Deeney stated. The doubts became more evident after Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday, where Gyökeres struggled to make an impact. Despite being given the opportunity, he failed to find the net, and so did Havertz, leaving concerns over Arsenal’s attacking options. Arsenal signed Gyökeres in the summer transfer window as part of Mikel Arteta’s plan to strengthen his forward line. However, Deeney’s comments suggest that the £55m investment may not yield the expected return if the striker cannot quickly adapt to the demands of top-flight English football.
