Viktor Gyökeres‘s highly anticipated Champions League performance against Arsenal has led to a wave of criticism, with many questioning whether the Swedish forward is worth the hefty €100 million price tag currently attached to his name.
Despite his prolific season so far — scoring 24 goals in 20 games — Gyökeres’s performance fell far short of expectations in Arsenal’s 5-1 demolition of Sporting on Tuesday.
This outing has left many wondering if the hype matches reality for the player who has been on Arsenal’s radar for some time.
![Gyökeres under fire The Swedish forward's performance was heavily criticised in England, with the press pointing out that his display against Arsenal "fell short." Some argue that he needs to leave the league now to prove himself at the highest level. A BOLA, 28 November 2024 The closest Gyökeres came to scoring against Arsenal was hitting the post. In the stands of Alvalade were numerous scouts from European clubs, watching the Lions' performance against Arsenal, with a particular focus on Gyökeres, who has been linked with half of Europe. But the Swede's display fell far short of what he has delivered recently—his hat-trick against Manchester City had only served to whet his suitors' appetites. Unfortunately, he struggled against Arsenal, contributing to the game's direction and to the growing deficit on the scoreboard, ultimately resulting in a heavy 1-5 defeat for the Greens and Whites. Gyökeres drew a blank, and the English press did not hold back. Some even stated that the forward failed the big test. "It was an important night, but he failed to make an impression. He seemed desperate for a moment that never came. He simply couldn’t hold the ball up against the strength and skill of Arsenal's defensive duo," noted London media. They added: "It's said that Gyökeres could be worth up to €100 million this summer. To justify that kind of valuation, a player needs to be able to overcome every challenge. Against defenders of the calibre of Gabriel and William Saliba, he fell short." Rúben Amorim's departure to Manchester United seems to be accelerating Gyökeres's possible move, with a return to England—where he previously played for Brighton and Coventry in the Championship—looking the most likely outcome. Former player Rio Ferdinand has expressed doubts about Gyökeres's standing in top-tier football, pointing out that he still has much to prove in a top league, something Portugal does not represent. "I wouldn't place him among the best just yet because he hasn't proven himself in a top league," Ferdinand said on TNT Sports. "With all due respect to the Portuguese league, it's a very good league, but it isn’t top-tier. If he signs for a Premier League side, he’ll need to prove himself. He has to come back and say, 'This is who I am.'" Asked about the best possible destination for the Lions' No. 9, Ferdinand joked: "If you want to win, go to Manchester United [laughs]. The key point is that he knows the coach. Transitioning to another league with someone who knows his playing style and can bring the best out of him—something he's already proven—while being the star of an emerging project, that's an opportunity he would relish." PICARDY WITH GABRIEL Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhães taunted Gyökeres with his celebration after scoring the third goal, with some Arsenal fans speculating that this was payback for Pedro Gonçalves's imitation of Granit Xhaka's celebration during the Lions' victory in the last encounter between the two teams, during the Europa League round of 16 in 2023. Gabriel’s social media accounts were soon flooded with derogatory comments about his antics.](https://dailycannon.com/static/uploads/1/2024/11/241127-a-bola-gyokeres-e1732794692953.png "Pundits question striker's €100m price tag after poor showing against Arsenal 2")
The clash against Arsenal provided Mikel Arteta and a host of European scouts a chance to assess Gyökeres up close. Unfortunately for the 26-year-old, his display was underwhelming at best.
The closest Gyökeres came to finding the back of the net was an effort that struck the post. The Swedish international struggled to deal with Arsenal’s defensive solidity, finding himself unable to keep hold of the ball or create opportunities against the formidable pairing of Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba.
The English press did not hold back in their assessment, with some outlets calling the performance a failure. “It was an important night, but he failed the test. He seemed desperate for a moment that never came,” wrote one outlet, adding that Gyökeres simply could not match the “strength and might” of Arsenal’s defence.
Another noted, “To be worth €100 million, a player has to be able to overcome every challenge. Against defenders of Gabriel and Saliba’s quality, Gyökeres fell short.”
The scrutiny of Gyökeres’s value has amplified following the match, and his display only fuelled doubts over his ability to perform at the highest level.
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand, speaking on TNT Sports, echoed these sentiments, arguing that Gyökeres has yet to prove himself in a top league. “With all due respect to the Portuguese championship, it is a very good league, but it is not top,” Ferdinand said.
“If he signs for a Premier League team, he will have to prove who he is. You have to come back and say ‘this is who I am’.” He noted that Gyökeres’s potential move to Manchester United, where he could reunite with former coach Ruben Amorim, might provide him with the right conditions for development, but added, “He hasn’t had success in a top league yet.”
Gyökeres’s recent hat-trick against Manchester City had sparked renewed interest in his services from Premier League clubs, with Arsenal among those reportedly interested.
However, his struggles against Arsenal have led to a reassessment of his current abilities, with the performance described by one paper as “short-lived” and indicative of a player who still has much to prove before earning a blockbuster move.
Football is fickle.
The expectation had been that Gyökeres would use the match to show his ability to step up to the Premier League level (a hattrick against City not enough, apparently), but his inability to influence the outcome or find the back of the net has thrown his readiness into question.
Amidst the criticism, Gabriel Magalhães’s post-goal celebration added fuel to the discussion, with the Brazilian defender mocking Gyökeres by recreating Pedro Gonçalves‘s infamous celebration, which had riled Arsenal fans during the Europa League round of 16 in 2023 by mocking Granit Xhaka’s celebration.
Gabriel’s actions led to a storm of derogatory comments on social media and criticism from an Arsenal legend, but it also underscored the dominance of Arsenal’s defence over Gyökeres throughout the match. The player himself didn’t mind at all.