Viktor Gyökeres is preparing to push for a January departure from Arsenal after sliding behind Kai Havertz in Mikel Arteta’s plans, Teamtalk reported. The 28-year-old forward has not started a single Premier League match this season, fueling mounting frustration in north London.
Arsenal Struggles Contrast With International Form
Gyökeres arrived at Arsenal from Sporting CP ahead of the 2025–26 season in a deal reported by FotbollDirekt as worth around 60 million pounds. He enjoyed a productive debut campaign under Arteta, leading the club’s scoring charts with 21 goals across all competitions as Arsenal captured the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final. Yet that output has dried up this autumn. Fotbolltransfers noted that the Swedish international managed 14 goals and one assist across 36 league matches last year, starting 26 of them. This term, however, he has been restricted to three substitute appearances in the league, totaling seven appearances in all competitions without finding the net for his club.
By contrast, Gyökeres carried his scoring boots onto the international stage during the recent international break. Aftonbladet reported that the striker netted four goals in four matches for Sweden during their Nations League fixtures. But that momentum failed to translate back to club football. Fotbollskanalen detailed that Gyökeres was introduced as a substitute in a scoreless outing against Leeds United last weekend and then spearheaded the attack in a midweek Champions League fixture against Lille, again failing to score.
Transfer Speculation and Atletico Madrid Interest
The lack of regular playing time has prompted Gyökeres and his representatives to survey the market ahead of the winter transfer window. FotbollDirekt reported that the forward’s camp was unsettled during the summer transfer window when Arsenal pursued Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez, a pursuit that clubs and agents indicate remains active. With Arsenal reportedly willing to listen to offers that would help fund a replacement, interest in the Swedish forward spans multiple leagues.
Atlético Madrid retains an interest after monitoring the situation over the summer, according to Fotbolltransfers, which also noted past links to Juventus, AC Milan, and Galatasaray. Meanwhile, Premier League and Bundesliga suitors are keeping close watch on developments as January approaches. Gyökeres signed a long-term contract upon his arrival that ties him to Arsenal through the summer of 2030, giving the club a strong position at the negotiating table should concrete bids arrive.
Arteta Defends Forward Amid Goal Drought
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s weekend fixture against Nottingham Forest, manager Mikel Arteta addressed the scrutiny surrounding his striker’s barren run.
Arteta described the current situation as one of those periods a player experiences during their career or a season, noting that the club tries to help him as much as possible. He added that the striker has had some really good moments and noted that there have been three or four times where he has been in front of goal without a goalkeeper, where the ball should have reached him, but it did not. He explained that while people might talk about other things, that is how it is for forwards, and that it comes down to small margins where whether or not you score changes the whole story.
When questioned by the British press about whether the 28-year-old’s confidence had dipped, Arteta dismissed the notion, pointing instead to the player’s daily application. “That’s it.”
Upcoming Fixtures and Next Steps
Arsenal returns to Premier League action against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, offering Gyökeres another opportunity to break his club-level duck and force his way back into Arteta’s starting lineup.
