Arsenal are expecting to announce the signing of Viktor Gyokeres in the coming days after finally agreeing a deal with Sporting Lisbon worth around £63m - with a medical set for the weekend
Arsenal legend Sol Campbell has warned that Viktor Gyokeres might not be enough to help the Gunners win the Premier League title and believes they might need two top strikers to battle Liverpool.
Gyokeres is on the verge of finally sealing his long-awaited move to the Emirates after talks with Sporting Lisbon dragged on for much of the summer.
Arsenal have agreed to pay the Portuguese club around £54.8million, plus £8.7m in add-ons and the Sweden international is expected to undergo a medical this weekend ahead of joining his team-mates on their pre-season tour of Singapore.
The Gunners will be hopeful Gyokeres can fire the team to silverware after five years without a trophy, having been blown away by Liverpool last season without a recognised No 9 up front for much of the campaign.
But Campbell - who won two Premier League titles at Arsenal and three FA Cups - has insisted that two strikers are necessary in case Gyokeres becomes injured.
Last season, Liverpool won the title with Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, while Mohamed Salah scored the bulk of the goals from the wing.
"You need two strikers to trouble other teams," he told the Sun via BetSelect. "You can’t always rely on just one striker as if he gets injured, the team's performance drops. So it’s important to have a main one and have another really good backup. Sometimes they can play together, sometimes one's on the bench and the other comes on.
"It can be good to get a slightly older one who’s been there, seen it, and done it, and can come on when you need something to happen for 20 minutes, but they’re top, top quality.
"If you pick the second striker properly, they can come on to make a difference. That’s something you have to do. So if they do get two strikers, they could definitely become champions.
"That's the type of player who has been missing, somebody who has scored 20-25 goals just in the league. It’s okay to say, ‘he’s got all of these goals in all of these competitions,’ but that’s not good enough; that’s not going to win you the Premier League. You need goals to get you over the line and make up point differences."
Gyokeres scored 54 goals in 52 games for Sporting Lisbon last season and is seen as one of the best strikers in world football right now.
He is set to become the club's sixth signing of the window after Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard and Cristhian Mosquera.
Arsenal, who have handed Gyokeres the iconic number 14 shirt once worn by Thierry Henry, are hoping to fly the player out to Asia soon as they prepare for games against Newcastle and Tottenham.
weadosuy
0
what do you mean
kmuguna
3
Good advice considering what happened last season when Saka was injured. I'm not a gunners fan but I like a competitive league
yutacilrst
3
get Vardy for free as backup
ColinsGooner
0
The legend has spoken,if Arteta was wise,he would sell Jesus and Havertz,add another striker to rotate with Gyokeres,Liverpool had Jota and Nunez,Man city have Halaand and Mourmush,Man united have Zirkzee,Holland Cunha,Newcastle with Wilson and Isak,while Arsenal are happy with having Havertz as the backup striker,the move that has failed to workout at all
goffrey
1
Waiting to welcome Gyokeres
vaililojr
0
Arsenal will want him out at the end of the season
vaililojr
0
Overrated striker
emondorock
0
I can't ever remember any top epl sides having 2 main strikers it doesn't happen.They a a solo machine that thrive on goals and ego?
kaoblnosuz
2
which number arsenal you give gyokeres
Dadaelpsz
2
nice advice 👌 to our legend problem is coach look at Liverpool is very strong so we can sign more forward players sharp wingers both side to assist saka like Rodrigo in real Madrid and Raphael Leo in Milan then get a striker like Mateo Retegui in atalanta I'm telling you Gunners will run by an unlimited velocity
foocdeikpt
1
he is 100℅ right
baadkrst
2
arsenal trensfer news live confirmed
sitdnotz
0
14 jersey confirm 10 is next
AUWALMUSA3132
0
U guys said Arsenal need only a striker and now that they have a good one u said is not enough. these guys are funny
Fahackoprz
2
Campbell is right next is ezzy
nopkmnosuz
3
but what is cambel smoking? why condemning this innocent boy who loves arsenal?
Manaimnsy
2
I like football veteran pundits, they always have something to say, even if there is nothing to say. Talking like there were no strikers before Gyokeres was signed. Ehe naw!
suzadlmpsy
2
Gabriel Jesus is zero, a strain on our budget. We need further signings in attack
suzadlmpsy
2
Our legend has spoken the truth. We need squad depth. Look the ambition of Liverpool: after signing Ekitike, they re still pursuing Isak, in addition to Salah and Gapko and Diaz
Lidbeklruy
4
this is somehow true because Arsenal has only one recognized striker now and if he can get injured then the team will be vulnerable again since Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are totally not strikers and there is a need of a back up forward and this also means that the squad will be vulnerable should anything bad happens to Victor Gyokeres during the course of the campaign
Jewklnpty
0
it's good to have one back up but the head coach should forciou one cup trophy from brother mamoud kabbie
pimabcektz
1
Eze Eze Eze Eze and we're good to go
wimlmpru
1
so cheap?
Evans0323
1
No need for that Soul Campbell we have Kai and Jesus as backup
lepmoprstz
2
For those who are still complaining n asking for another striker it’s better you give Arsenal the money to sign another striker than to site there n complain…clowns n mumu supporters 😜😝😝😝
Suubdlnuz
4
Madueke, Harvertz, and Saka will add goals as well...instead of another striker better to get Rodrygo to balance wingbacks and create real thunder for forwards
rombceikmo
2
MR CAMPBELL were were you all along wenthe GYOKERES deal wason the verge of collapsing you didn't say a word .nw GOYKERES HAS CAME YOU ARE NOT APRRECIATING ...YOU ARE WORKING FOR ENEMY I SEE
tupabdmpyz
0
left winger please
ritcestuyz
0
Rodrigo or Eze can help us to complete wth Liverpool and Man City
Vaoaersz
2
eze all the way
ritcestuyz
1
We have Jesus, Kai, and Merino as back up plan
Kai and Jesus are all wasteful
Tizadklop
1
please more
Miwborstu
3
l think it's better to sign Benjamin Sesko as a second striker.
Feebdmnoy
1
We have Jesus, Kai, and Merino as back up plan
Which Jesus? D guy is a total waste of money
Dramz13
3
We have Jesus, Kai, and Merino as back up plan
Bukbclor
0
isak please 🥺
laedikosty
3
Rodrigo or Eze
taodiknpsu
1
we need Eze
caoaelmou
4
Gabriel Jesus can be in the bench
YakubuAutaSaad
3
That's true Campbell. But in the absence of a prolific old striker in the market we can hang on with the forwards we already have. You can't afford to keep Isak or VK benching each other in a team.