Gyokeres 'wants January Arsenal exit' as Havertz starts ahead of him

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Viktor Gyokeres is reportedly ready to push for a move away from Arsenal in January, just months after insisting his future at the club was never in doubt.

According to TEAMtalk, the Swedish striker is considering his options having failed to start a single Premier League match so far this season. Kai Havertz has instead been preferred as Arteta's central striker, limiting Gyokeres largely to a role off the bench.

The report also claims Arsenal's continued interest in Julian Alvarez has only deepened Gyokeres's uncertainty about where he fits into the squad going forward.

A change of tune since September

It marks a notable shift from where things stood a month ago, when Gyokeres said staying at Arsenal was never in question and that he was extremely happy at the club, while admitting the lack of regular minutes was frustrating.

Gyokeres joined from Sporting Lisbon in July 2025 with a reputation as one of Europe's most prolific forwards, and delivered in his first season, scoring 21 goals in all competitions as Arsenal won the Premier League. This season has been a different story in terms of game time, even though his recent form away from club football tells its own tale, with four goals scored for Sweden during the international break.

That output abroad only sharpens the question of how long the 28 year old will be willing to wait for a sustained run in Arteta's starting XI at club level.

Would Arsenal even consider selling in January?

Atletico Madrid are said to be among the clubs monitoring his situation, though there remains a clear gap between interest and a concrete transfer move materialising in the middle of a season.

Arsenal would also have to weigh up the risk of losing an experienced centre forward partway through a campaign that still has major targets in play across multiple competitions. Selling now would leave Arteta needing a replacement at a point in the season when options are typically limited and prices inflated.

There has been no public confirmation from either Gyokeres or Arsenal that a January exit is being actively pursued, and TEAMtalk's report should be treated as speculation for now rather than an imminent departure. But if his playing time does not increase in the coming weeks, talk of a move away is unlikely to fade.

Arsenal's squad planning for the January window will likely hinge on how Arteta chooses to rotate his forward line between now and the new year, and whether Gyokeres is given the kind of run of starts that could change the conversation entirely.