Arsenal’s £55m Gyokeres gamble looks a mistake as Havertz is preferred

Arsenal spent £55 million on Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres last summer after an impressive spell at Sporting, yet manager Mikel Arteta has consistently chosen a half‑fit Kai Havertz over him, making the purchase look increasingly questionable.

Gyokeres’ barren start to the Premier League season

Following a gaping hole in Arsenal’s attack, Gyokeres arrived with high expectations but has featured for just 56 minutes across six matches. His benching for the recent fixture against Leeds United underscored Arteta’s low ranking of the Swede in his pecking order.

Other names that once hovered over Arsenal’s transfer radar

Before Gyokeres, Arsenal were linked with RB Leipzig’s Sebastian Sesko, a deal that collapsed after talks with the German club fell through; Sesko later joined Manchester United in the summer of 2025.

English forward Ollie Watkins was another long‑standing target, but Arsenal never secured a move. After leaving Aston Villa, Watkins signed a one‑year contract with Al Hilal, earning €600 k per week and scoring four goals with four assists in five Saudi matches.

Chelsea prepare £50m pursuit as La Liga midfielder looms in January

Midfielder Jacob Jackson, once linked to a £41 million Arsenal bid, instead spent a season on loan at Bayern Munich before joining Aston Villa, where he has already netted two Premier League goals this season.

Striker Liam Delap, a potential bargain with a £30 million release clause and 12 Premier League goals for a relegated side, moved to Chelsea before landing at Nottingham Forest, a move Arsenal later described as a bullet dodged.

Canadian forward David Neres, who scored 25 goals for Lille, was linked to Arsenal in 2025 but ultimately signed for Juventus. After a modest return of six goals in 36 games in Italy, he was loaned to Atletico Madrid, where he has already hit three goals in four La Liga appearances, including one in the Madrid derby.

Finally, French defender William Thuram, whose free‑agent status attracted interest in 2023, chose Inter Milan, signing a deal until 2028 and tallying 54 goals for the Serie A champions, three of which came this season.