Arsenal discover £18m Viktor Gyokeres boost despite Liverpool alarm bells

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Viktor Gyokeres' goalless streak for Arsenal stretched to six matches on Thursday following the Gunners' 0-0 stalemate with Liverpool . The forward managed a mere eight touches before being withdrawn with 30 minutes remaining.

Since his summer switch from Sporting CP, Gyokeres has netted seven times in 24 appearances. Excluding his penalty conversion against Everton before Christmas , his last goal from open play came in the 2-0 victory over Burnley at the beginning of November.

The Sweden international has found it difficult to make his mark for Mikel Arteta's side in recent months, with Gabriel Jesus being deployed from the substitutes' bench.

Kai Havertz's gradual recovery from injury and Mikel Merino's proven credentials at centre-forward suggest he could be facing a period among the replacements.

Arsenal shelled out more than £60million to secure Gyokeres' services last summer, with his arrival bringing hopes that he would be the final component in Arteta's Premier League title puzzle. However, things haven't worked out that way so far.

Despite his struggles to consistently influence matches and find the net, Arteta maintains faith in his striker.

"Since day one, you sign as a No.9 for Arsenal with the background he has and the expectation at Arsenal, that is not going away," he said. "That is the life of being an Arsenal No.9.

"There is an expectation when you pull the shirt on. He knew that and it was part of the plan. I see him training every day and in the meeting, how much he wants to do well.

"The way he is working every single match, it will click. One thing is missing at the moment, scoring more goals, but he is doing other things right."

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When Gyokeres moved to north London, he signed a five-year contract. The 27-year-old's signing could cost up to £64m and yet, despite his struggles, his market value has already increased.

According to the CIES Football Observatory, Gyokeres' value is estimated at €94m (£81.9m). That's mainly down to his prolific first half of 2025 and decent opening two months in England as well as the five-year contract he signed with the club.

For everyone associated with the football club, Gyokeres will help Arsenal win the Premier League; his form will return, and there will be no need even to consider any future sale.

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