Arsenal legend Martin Keown has claimed striker Viktor Gyokeres remains below the required fitness level for the Premier League, despite the Gunners securing a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
“Not at the Level”: Keown Doubts Gyokeres After Quiet Display
Gyokeres, recently returned from a November injury, started the match but delivered a quiet performance. He registered only 15 touches and a single shot before his substitution in the 81st minute.
His replacement, Gabriel Jesus, made an instant impact, pressuring defender Yerson Mosquera into the late own goal that sealed the win for Arsenal.
Analyzing the decisive moment, Keown highlighted Jesus’s influential movement and suggested the Brazilian has reignited the competition for the starting striker role.
“Jesus looked good when he came on, and Gyokeres is still not at the fitness level you would expect,” Keown told TNT Sports.
“There’s a real tussle for who is going to be that No.9 and Jesus has put himself right back in there.”
Manager Mikel Arteta, however, defended his Swedish forward, shifting some responsibility onto the team’s service.
Arteta stated that Gyokeres found good positions but the final ball often lacked the necessary speed or precision.
He praised the striker’s work-rate and intentions, emphasizing the need for continued improvement from the entire unit.
The victory maintains Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table as they enter a welcome week without a midweek fixture.
Keown believes this break arrives at a crucial time for the squad to recharge physically and mentally before a challenging trip to Everton.
With Manchester City and Aston Villa in action this weekend, the title race remains intensely competitive.
However, the immediate focus at the Emirates will be on the center-forward position, as Jesus’s energetic cameo poses a serious challenge to Gyokeres for a starting spot in the coming weeks.
