Chris Waddle, the former England international who played for Tottenham, Newcastle, and Marseille, believes Viktor Gyökeres would struggle to adapt to the Premier League and that Arsenal should consider selling him.

Despite an inconsistent start under Mikel Arteta, Gyökeres scored 21 goals in his first season for Arsenal and became the club's top scorer.

Arsenal rejected offers for him this summer and insisted he was not for sale, even though he has since lost his place to fellow forward Kai Havertz. However, reports this month suggest the Gunners would consider selling the Swedish striker if a sufficient offer came in.

This includes the January transfer window next year, which means Arsenal could reinvest the funds in another striker. A potential target could be Julián Álvarez from Atlético Madrid, a player Arsenal were linked with this summer.

Speaking to Betpack, Waddle expressed his belief that Gyökeres never fully settled at Arsenal and could leave if a significant offer arrived.

"I thought Gyökeres was a bit of an odd signing at the time. I know he had fantastic goal-scoring numbers at Sporting Lisbon, but let's be honest, there are only three big teams in Portugal, and the league's top scorer usually comes from one of them.

"He was a good fit for Sporting Lisbon; they dominated most games, and his goal tally was indeed remarkable, you can't deny that. But I saw him play for Coventry, and I thought he was decent, but I never saw him as a top Premier League player.

"A lot of people say he works hard, but I just don't think the Premier League suits him. Maybe it's different in Portugal; they play a different style, and being in a team that dominates every game suits him better.

"I'm not saying Arsenal don't dominate, but he just doesn't seem to fit. Whether it's the English style of play or the nature of the Premier League itself, many players who perform well abroad struggle to adapt when they come to this league.

"Perhaps it's a confidence issue. He understands English football because he played for Coventry before, so it's not completely unfamiliar. I think if someone makes a decent offer for him, Arsenal will definitely consider it. But whether it's Everton or Newcastle, I'm not sure he really fits the overall Premier League environment."

Havertz subsequently suffered a thigh injury while playing for Germany. Gyökeres could return to the squad after the international break.

Übersetzt von KI.

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