Arsenal may have finally landed the striker they’ve long been chasing, but Paul Scholes isn’t entirely sold on the decision to bring Viktor Gyökeres to the Emirates.
After weeks of speculation, the Gunners wrapped up a reported £64million deal for the Swedish forward from Sporting CP. Despite beating out Manchester United in the race for the 27-year-old, Red Devils legend Scholes has openly questioned whether Mikel Arteta truly had Gyökeres at the top of his wishlist.
Speaking on *The Overlap Fan Debate*, Scholes suggested that Arsenal’s manager may have hesitated on the move, pointing to a lack of conviction during the transfer pursuit.
“Arsenal needed a striker, no doubt, but I’m not sure if Gyökeres was Arteta’s first choice,” Scholes said. “It didn’t seem like there was real confidence in the decision, more like it was made out of necessity.”
Gyökeres arrives in North London with an impressive record—97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting—but Scholes raised concerns about how his playing style will mesh with Arsenal’s approach.
“In Portugal, he thrived in a counter-attacking setup,” Scholes explained. “Arsenal dominate possession. The question is whether he’s smart enough to find space when teams sit back. Most of his goals came from explosive runs from deep. That’s not going to happen often in the Premier League when you’re playing for Arsenal.”
The former midfielder even compared the Swede to Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, implying that Gyökeres might lack the finesse required to operate in tighter spaces.
“He’s fast, powerful, and can finish, no doubt about that. But is he clever enough to adapt his game? That’s what remains to be seen.”
Not everyone shares Scholes’ skepticism. Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard believes the club has secured a gem.
“He’s strong, quick, and deadly in front of goal,” Ødegaard said during the Gunners’ pre-season tour in Hong Kong. “There’s a lot of hunger in him, a real presence. Even though he’s only had a few training sessions with us, you can already see the energy and quality he brings.”
As Arsenal prepare for a title charge, all eyes will be on Gyökeres to deliver. Whether he lives up to the hype—or proves Scholes right—remains one of the Premier League’s early talking points.
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