Arsenal’s latest Champions League outing may have ended with a 2-0 win over Olympiacos, but the victory has sparked more questions than celebrations. Gabriel Martinelli’s early strike and Bukayo Saka’s late insurance goal ensured the points were secured, yet the glaring wastefulness in attack left fans and pundits fuming. The Emirates faithful, usually buoyed by the team’s form this season, were instead left frustrated by the lack of clinical finishing – and the spotlight quickly fell on one man: Viktor Gyökeres.
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand did not hold back in his post-match analysis. Speaking on his Vibe with Five podcast, he slammed the Swedish striker, labelling him “overrated” after a nightmare performance where he had fewer touches than goalkeeper David Raya and missed multiple clear chances. Ferdinand went further, warning Mikel Arteta not to risk starting Gyökeres in the upcoming Premier League clash against West Ham. “If he starts, it’s a disaster waiting to happen,” Ferdinand said bluntly. His assessment reflected what many Arsenal fans felt in the stands – irritation that a £63 million signing is yet to prove his worth.
Gyökeres was supposed to be Arsenal’s answer to Erling Haaland – a powerful forward capable of converting half-chances into goals. Instead, he produced a string of painful misses against Olympiacos that left supporters exasperated. From a close-range header that should have been buried, to a one-on-one chance dragged wide, and finally an open goal blazed over the bar, it was a performance to forget. Opta statistics showed that he managed just 18 touches in the entire game, compared to Raya’s 29, and finished without a single shot on target. For a striker signed to solve Arsenal’s long-standing finishing problems, those numbers made for grim reading.
Despite the criticism, Arteta moved quickly to defend his marquee signing. In his post-match press conference, he emphasized patience: “Viktor is adapting to a new league, new teammates, and a new system. We believe in him, and he will come good with time.” However, reports from the training ground suggest the manager may consider rotating his frontline against West Ham, with Kai Havertz or even a reshuffled system involving Bukayo Saka as a central option. Given Arsenal’s poor record at the London Stadium and the form of West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, it could prove to be a pivotal decision.
The backlash on social media has been intense. The hashtag #DropGyokeres began trending overnight, with thousands of fans posting memes and sarcastic nicknames like “Tap-In Terror.” Still, some supporters urged calm, pointing to the striker’s 38-goal season in Portugal last year as proof that his quality is undeniable. Pundits, however, have been less forgiving. Jamie Carragher described the transfer as looking like “a £63 million gamble gone wrong,” while Gary Neville warned that “this isn’t the time to gamble against West Ham.”
Ultimately, Gyökeres’ struggles highlight the fine margins Arsenal face this season. The club is unbeaten in the league and leading the table, but performances like this hint at vulnerabilities that could cost them in the long run. Rio Ferdinand’s scathing comments have only intensified the pressure, creating a storm of doubt around the Swedish forward. Now, all eyes turn to Arteta’s team sheet on Saturday – will he stand by his record signing or bow to the mounting calls for change?.
