Agbonlahor claims Arsenal will '100%' sell Gyökeres next summer
Gabriel Agbonlahor has made a bold prediction about Viktor Gyökeres's Arsenal future, insisting the Gunners will sell the Swedish striker next summer, just days after he again failed to find the net in a 2-0 win over Everton.
Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Aston Villa striker questioned Gyökeres's mobility before delivering his verdict on the forward's long term prospects at the club. “Looks like he's like running in slow motion, isn't he?” Agbonlahor said, before conceding the Swede's ability to hold the ball up. Asked directly whether Gyökeres would still be at Arsenal next season, he replied: “Yeah, 100%.”
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Agbonlahor went further, suggesting Arsenal would already have offloaded Gyökeres had they managed to land Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez over the summer. Arsenal were repeatedly linked with a Gyökeres plus cash deal for Álvarez throughout the transfer window, with one report suggesting the Gunners could have offered the striker alongside £68.5 million. That move never materialised, and Gyökeres remained in north London.
A tough start to the season in front of goal
There is no hiding from the numbers. Gyökeres managed just 17 touches and failed to register a single shot during his 68 minutes against Everton on Saturday, a disappointing return for a striker who arrived with a reputation as a prolific goalscorer.
That said, he has contributed assists in consecutive appearances, helping Arsenal secure positive results even without getting on the scoresheet himself. Saturday's outing was also only his first Premier League start of the campaign, with Kai Havertz having been preferred in the position for much of the season so far.
Premature to write off his Arsenal future
Gyökeres helped Arsenal win the Premier League last season and remains under contract until 2030, making Agbonlahor's certainty about a summer exit a striking claim to make just eight league games into the new campaign.
Mikel Arteta has repeatedly spoken positively about the striker, and there is plenty of football still to be played before any decisions about next summer's transfer business need to be made. It is fair to question whether Gyökeres is currently producing enough to command a regular starting spot given the competition from Havertz, but declaring his Arsenal career already over looks premature on the back of a single start.
Whether Agbonlahor's prediction proves accurate will depend largely on how Gyökeres responds over the coming months, with further opportunities likely to come his way as the season progresses.
