Arsenal are making plans to sign a new forward in the January transfer window, placing Viktor Gyokeres’s future under serious scrutiny after a difficult start to his Gunners career. The Sweden international has scored only once this season, a penalty in the chaotic 5-5 Carabao Cup draw with Fleetwood Town, and was an unused substitute for much of last weekend's 1-0 win at Liverpool. The team's form, with three wins and two draws in their last five matches, has kept them at the summit, but the need for more consistent scoring is clear.
Manager Mikel Arteta delivered a blunt warning to the striker about the expectations at the Emirates before his arrival. "I told him before the first meeting, I said, 'The nine that I want is a nine that when he doesn't score for six or eight games, he can handle that,'" Arteta revealed.
With Gyokeres struggling for league goals, the club's recruitment team is assessing options. Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi is one name under consideration, though the Gunners face competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich for the young forward. Arsenal also retain a long-standing interest in Juventus attacker Kenan Yildiz. The future of Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, a target last summer, remains uncertain, adding another potential avenue for the club.
The 27-year-old came on for the final minutes against Liverpool, replacing goalscorer Kai Havertz, who netted the only goal in that victory on Sunday 1 November. He will hope for a start in Wednesday's Champions League group stage match against Slavia Prague, a game where midfielder Max Dowman is eligible to play despite his domestic suspension. Arsenal's appeal against Dowman's red card in the Fleetwood match was unsuccessful. Despite the forward's struggles, the team sits first in the Premier League with 24 points from nine games, three points clear of Manchester City. Their record shows eight wins and one loss, with 14 goals scored and only five conceded. Havertz is the club's top scorer this term with three goals in nine appearances.
Arteta’s side are unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions, a run that includes that vital victory at Anfield as well as a league win over Everton and draws with Fleetwood Town and Bayern München. The planning for January indicates the club's ambition to strengthen a squad already leading the title race, ensuring they have the firepower to maintain their challenge.
More detail at Daily Mirror Football
