Former Premier League forward Teddy Sheringham has offered a sharp assessment of Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres, expressing disbelief at the player’s current approach to the game. Speaking to Hajper, as cited by Metro UK, Sheringham remarked, “It shocks me that he’s still playing like a kid,” suggesting that the 28-year-old has yet to master the nuance required for elite attacking play. Teddy Sheringham has issued a bold verdict on the Arsenal attacker and claimed Gyökeres still hasn’t learnt how to play like an attacking player despite being 28 years old.
Gyökeres arrived at the Emirates during the 2025 summer window with a prolific reputation. He enjoyed a productive debut season, netting 22 goals across all competitions and contributing significantly to the Gunners’ first Premier League title in 22 years. Despite these achievements, he has fallen out of favor under Mikel Arteta, who has prioritized Kai Havertz as his primary number nine. Speculation intensified during the 2026 summer window that Arsenal considered offloading the forward to facilitate a move for Julian Alvarez. The fact that Gyökeres has yet to start a league match this season further underlines the manager’s current lack of trust. Arteta has reverted to using Kai Havertz as his preferred No.9. As they wanted to bring in Julian Alvarez in the 2026 summer window, reports suggested the club was ready to cash in on Gyökeres after just one season.
Despite Sheringham’s criticism regarding his tactical maturity, the Swedish international remains a potent threat in front of goal. Gyökeres recently demonstrated his quality during the international break, scoring four goals in four appearances for Sweden. He may soon find a path back into the Arsenal lineup, as Kai Havertz is expected to be sidelined for several weeks following an injury sustained while on international duty.
Arsenal’s defensive ranks are also facing scrutiny after defender Ezri Konsa returned early from England duty. England manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed that Konsa arrived at the training camp with a knock but managed to feature against Spain. After suffering a further setback ahead of the clash against Czechia, he was released back to his club. The Gunners will be hoping the injury is minor, given their current limited depth in central defense.
