Robert Pires makes feelings clear when asked if Viktor Gyokeres is ‘missing piece’ for Arsenal in race to win league title

Arsenal legend Robert Pires has described Viktor Gyökeres as a ‘key’ signing for the Gunners but believes the striker needs to ‘score goals consistently’ in order to help them win the title.

Gyökeres joined Arsenal from Sporting CP in the summer in a transfer worth €63.5 million. Given his output in his final season at Sporting, the Swede’s arrival was met with high expectations. However, he has come under intense scrutiny for having yet to reach the numbers expected of him.

So far this season, Gyökeres has scored just seven goals in 20 appearances across competitions and blanked yet again in their 4-1 win against Aston Villa on Tuesday.

During an interview with Flashscore, Pires praised manager Mikel Arteta for improving his squad depth, noting that there is ‘quality’ on the bench. He said:

“Arteta has changed something, especially in terms of squad depth. The quality on the bench is very important. Arsenal spent a lot of money on Viktor Gyokeres, and that was a key move. When you want to win the Premier League, you need a striker who can score goals consistently, but also help the team in difficult moments.”

When asked if Gyökeres is the missing piece for Arsenal in the title race, Pires responded:

“Yes, because goals are crucial, but it’s not only about scoring. He gives the team something different. For me, the big difference with this Arsenal squad is not only the starting 11, but the quality on the bench. When players come on, they can immediately help the team. That is very important over a long season.”

Gyökeres concluded last season as Europe’s most prolific striker, scoring 63 goals in 58 appearances across all competitions.

Edited by Ezekiel Olamide