Viktor Gyokeres was Arsenal's top goalscorer last season and one former Gunner has defended the Swede

Viktor Gyokeres did not get the credit he deserved at Arsenal last season and the club does not need a striker who can score 30 goals every year, according to Jeremie Aliadiere.

The Swede joined from Sporting CP in a deal worth £64million last summer and helped the Gunners win their first Premier League title in 22 years, as well as reach the final of the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

Many criticised Gyokeres, however, despite the 28-year-old scoring 21 goals across all competitions. Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka were the club's next highest scorers with 11 goals each, while Kai Havertz only netted seven times, although his season was disrupted by injury.

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Former Arsenal striker Aliadiere believes the way Arsenal play does not suit an out-and-out goalscorer. Speaking to Betway, he said: ''It's tough because you think to be successful, you need a striker to go and get you 30 goals, but Arsenal proved last season that that's not the case.

"Havertz has started the season well for me, and I just think Arsenal's style of play - getting the ball out wide and utilising the wingers might not suit that type of striker that fans are calling for. It was great to see Gyokeres back at the weekend, and he scored some important goals last year and probably didn't get the credit he deserved."

Aliadiere, who was part of the Invincibles Arsenal squad which won the Premier League in 2003/04, was happy to see the majority of the 2025/26 squad remain at Emirates Stadium. However, the exits of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli do worry the former Middlesbrough man.

''I think it was great that Mikel managed to keep hold of his best players this summer, because when you're successful, there's always going to be clubs wanting to sign your star players," said Aliadiere.

"Keeping the core of that squad was important, but I do think losing both Trossard and Martinelli on that left-hand side wasn't ideal. I know there were rumours of Vinicius Junior signing, which would have been amazing, but I do feel we might be a bit short in that area of the pitch.

"It's hard when you're champions, though, because you don't want to sign somebody for the sake of it, you really want to add quality to the group and add players that are going to take you to the next level.''

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