Former striker Troy Deeney has suggested that Victor Gyokeres is fortunate to still be part of the Arsenal squad this season. The Swedish forward, who arrived at the Emirates in the summer of 2025 for a reported £63.7 million from Sporting CP, faced a difficult inaugural campaign. During that debut year, he managed 21 goals and three assists across 55 appearances, a return that left some observers underwhelmed.
The 28-year-old’s position at the club appeared precarious during the recent transfer window. Arsenal were reportedly prepared to include the striker in a deal to secure Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, though that move ultimately failed to materialize, leaving Gyokeres in north London. Deeney, speaking to TalkSPORT, noted that the player is well aware of his situation, stating, “He knows he’s lucky to be there.”
Despite his uncertain status, Deeney predicts that manager Mikel Arteta will integrate the forward more frequently in the coming weeks, particularly during Champions League fixtures. So far, Arteta has favored Kai Havertz to lead the attack, leaving Gyokeres without any minutes in the opening Premier League matches against Coventry City and Aston Villa. His only recent involvement came as a 15-minute substitute during the FA Community Shield clash with Manchester City.
In other squad developments, Arsenal have officially parted ways with Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian winger has completed a move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal in a deal valued at approximately £60 million. Following the transfer, Martinelli posted a heartfelt farewell on Instagram, thanking the supporters and expressing pride in his time at the club, where he insisted he always gave his maximum effort.
Martinelli leaves behind a significant legacy after seven seasons with the Gunners. Since joining from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019 for a modest £6 million fee, he became a staple of the team, making 278 appearances. Over that period, he contributed 62 goals and 36 assists, marking the end of a productive era at the Emirates. The report also notes that however, he endured a somewhat underwhelming debut season, scoring 21 goals in 55 games across competitions while producing three assists. The report also notes that however, Gyokeres could also play a key role across the season with Arsenal looking to compete on all fronts.
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