"Gyokeres needs to lose weight. He is in the right environment with Mikel Arteta and the surrounding players. Arsenal has a great squad", Schwarz, a former midfielder who played for Arsenal from 1994 to 1995, told Hajper.

Gyokeres dribbles during Arsenal's 5-0 victory over Leeds United in the Premier League at Emirates Stadium, London, England on 23/8. *Photo: Reuters*

In summer 2025, Arsenal signed Gyokeres for a total fee of 86 million USD from Sporting. Gyokeres arrived at Emirates Stadium as one of Europe's top strikers. In the last two seasons, the Swedish forward scored 68 goals in the Portuguese national championship, leading all of Europe's top 10 national leagues. He had a relatively good start in London with 6 goals in 14 matches.

Schwarz noted that Gyokeres is a powerful striker, a good finisher with both feet, but he is a "heavy" player and reducing his body weight would help him perform better. According to Schwarz, the Premier League demands superior speed and strength, forcing new signings to achieve optimal physical condition.

Schwarz also stated that what Gyokeres currently lacks most is preseason preparation time and chemistry with his teammates. "You need 6 weeks to understand every movement, every glance of your teammates, like Dennis Bergkamp did in the past. Those are the small details that make a difference", he said.

Nevertheless, the former Swedish legend believes Gyokeres will score many goals and become an important piece in Arsenal's journey to contend for the championship title.

Coach Mikel Arteta is also satisfied with Gyokeres's contribution, even though he recently went through a seven-match goal drought. "I said it from our very first meeting: the number 9 I need is someone who can withstand the pressure of not scoring for 6 or 8 matches straight. If he cannot handle it, he must go elsewhere", the Spanish coach stated.

Gyokeres was also criticized for being overweight when he first arrived at Sporting in 2023. But he responded with excellent form, scoring 97 goals in 102 matches during two seasons in Portugal. Last season, Gyokeres scored 54 goals in 52 matches across all competitions, including a hat-trick against Man City in the Champions League, significantly contributing to Sporting winning the national championship and the Portuguese Cup.

Hong Duy (via Daily Mail)