Not long ago, cracks were beginning to appear in Arsenal’s armor. A string of goalscoring struggles and a painful defeat to Manchester United felt like the moment the Gunners’ title charge might derail.
Fast forward a week, and the mood has shifted entirely. A 4-0 demolition of Leeds, a place in the Carabao Cup final, and a clinical 3-0 win over Sunderland have reignited North London. Even more impressive? They’ve done it all without their poster boy, Bukayo Saka. Arsenal now boasts the kind of squad depth that isn’t just the best in England it might be the best in Europe.
The Rise of the Ruthless Viktor Gyokeres
While the win over Sunderland was a team effort, it was impossible to ignore the impact of Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede’s debut campaign at the Emirates hasn’t been a fairy tale, but 2026 has seen him transform.
After being named January’s Player of the Month, Gyokeres is finally looking like the ruthless finisher Mikel Arteta paid for. Coming off the bench on the hour mark against the Black Cats, he was clinical, bagging two goals and showing a level of composure that has been missing from Arsenal’s frontline. With 6 goals in all competitions this calendar year, no Premier League player is more in-form than the former Sporting man.
The Gabriel Jesus Problem
Gyokeres’ ascent is, unfortunately, the final nail in the coffin for Gabriel Jesus’ starting ambitions.
While Jesus has never been “bad” since his return from injury often involving himself more in the build-up with 48.7 touches per 90 compared to Gyokeres’ 24.1 he lacks the one thing Arsenal needs to win the league: lethal efficiency.
Against Sunderland, the alarm bells were deafening. In 60 minutes, Jesus:
- Managed just 17 touches.
- Was caught offside 3 times, killing the team’s momentum.
- Produced a dismal xG of 0.01.
A “Henry” Without the Goals?
In 2022, Arsenal legend Ray Parlour remarked that Jesus played similarly to Thierry Henry, noting how he “drifts out to the left” to manipulate defenders. But while the Brazilian may still have flashes of Henry’s flair, he lacks the Frenchman’s legendary output.
With Kai Havertz proving to be a master of “all-round play” and Gyokeres finding his scoring boots, Jesus has become the third-choice luxury. For one of the club’s highest earners, “drifting to the left” isn’t enough anymore.
As Arsenal chases major honors, Arteta cannot afford sentimentality. The verdict is in: if it’s not Gyokeres leading the line, it must be Havertz. For Gabriel Jesus, the summer exit door has never looked closer.
Siara Costa is a football editor and writer covering both European men’s and women’s football, with a focus on league competitions, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling.
