Emmanuel Petit has pushed the Viktor Gyökeres debate at Arsenal into a harsher place, saying the striker is not welcome anymore at the club. Petit also said he believes Gyökeres has lost confidence, and he read Arsenal's search for another striker as a clear message about where the Sweden international stands.
Petit's verdict on Gyokeres
Speaking to football365.com, Petit said: "He’s not the priority in the pecking order." He added: "I think he’s lost confidence and you can see that." The former Arsenal midfielder went further still, saying the club's interest in strikers in the market sent Gyökeres a message that he is "not welcome anymore."
That is a blunt reading of a player who arrived with expectation on him. It is also one that fits the awkward reality around his start. Viktor Gyökeres has made only 4 Premier League appearances for Arsenal this season and played 80 league minutes, with 1 assist in those outings.
Arsenal's striker pecking order
The wider issue is not just the low total of minutes, it is where Gyökeres sits in Mikel Arteta's plans. One source has him behind Kai Havertz in the pecking order discussion, which is why Petit's comments landed with extra force.
Petit also said: "Gyokeres knows that he’s not the first priority and it will be difficult for him to play in some very important matches." That fits the sense that Arsenal are still treating the forward line as a live market area, not a settled one.
The club's next run gives them little room to avoid the discussion. Arsenal are second in the Premier League with 18 points from 7 matches, and their next league fixture is at home to Everton. After that come Fleetwood Town away in the League Cup and Liverpool away in the Premier League.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
