Mikel Arteta has already decided Viktor Gyokeres Arsenal career is over

Mikel Arteta has reached a definitive conclusion regarding Viktor Gyokeres. Despite public declarations of contentment from the club, the manager’s actions this season tell a far starker story.

Arteta Signals Gyokeres Exit as Arsenal Scout New No.9

The Swedish striker has become a marginal figure at the Emirates, and the writing appears firmly on the wall.

Arsenal invested £64 million to bring Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon in 2025. He delivered a respectable debut campaign, scoring 21 goals across 55 appearances.

However, that form has evaporated. This term, Arteta has handed Gyokeres just 207 minutes across eight fixtures.

Kai Havertz has cemented his status as the undisputed first-choice centre-forward, relegating the 28-year-old to a bit-part role.

When Arteta did afford Gyokeres rare starts against Napoli in the Champions League and Ipswich Town in the EFL Cup the striker failed to seize his opportunity.

His movement and desire have drawn heavy criticism. For a player earning £200,000 per week, according to talkSPORT, such passive displays represent poor value.

Fabrizio Romano recently insisted Arsenal remain “very happy” with their strikers, yet he also confirmed the club is actively scouting forward options for 2027.

That timeline directly contradicts any notion of a long-term future for Gyokeres in north London.

Arsenal reportedly dreamed of signing Julian Alvarez, and summer rumours linked Gyokeres with a swap move to Atletico Madrid.

Arteta demands relentless intensity and tactical discipline. Gyokeres has shown neither consistently enough to convince his manager.

With Arsenal targeting a new striker and right-back, the club is clearly planning for life after the Swede.

Following Saturday’s humbling 3-0 defeat at Brighton, Arteta needs players he can trust. Gyokeres, evidently, is not one of them. His Arsenal career is effectively finished.