Forget Viktor Gyokeres, Emmanuel Petit says another Arsenal player is ‘the problem’
Viktor Gyokeres was Arsenal’s most criticised player in the 2025/26 season.
The Gunners finally signed a new striker last summer, and the Swede, who had scored 97 goals in 102 games at Sporting CP, was viewed as a potential difference-maker.
Gyokeres had his struggles at times, but he still ended the season with over 20 goals for Arsenal and helped them win the Premier League title.
That seems to have impressed Emmanuel Petit, who has backed Gyokeres and pinned the blame on another Arsenal player.
Emmanuel Petit says Viktor Gyokeres is not the problem, Gabriel Jesus is
Arsenal’s three strikers at the moment are Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
The German seems to be the first choice at the moment, with the former Sporting CP man starting the games against Manchester City and Coventry on the bench.
Jesus, however, was left out of the squad for both games, and he is expected to leave Arsenal before the transfer window shuts.
Petit, who played with some great strikers during his time as a player, has praised Gyokeres amid all the criticism and pointed the finger at Jesus instead, branding him as ‘the problem’.
He told Oddschecker when asked about the Swede: “Well, they won the Premier League with him, right? They reached the Champions League final with him, right? I think he has the quality to improve.
“It was not easy with the expectations and the pressure on his shoulders. When he came, people wanted him to score exactly the goals he used to score in Portugal. It’s not the same league, with all the respect I have for the Portuguese league.
“He gives 100 per cent on the pitch all the time. He’s not the best striker in the world, but he brings something very important for Arsenal. He can score goals and improve his stats and assists, but the work he’s doing up front amazes me with how many runs he makes per game without receiving the ball.
“I would chase another striker, but I would keep Gyokeres. For me, Gyokeres is not the problem. Jesus is the problem.”
Arsenal fans should not forget what Gabriel Jesus has done for the club
Jesus will be the first one to admit that things have not fully worked out for him at Arsenal.
The Brazilian had an incredible start in the famous red and white, but multiple injury issues since have cost him the chance to be at his best.
That is why Arsenal want him gone, but fans should not forget his contribution.
Along with Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jesus changed the mentality of the club when he arrived in the summer of 2022.
That helped make Arsenal contenders for the Premier League title, and even though it took a while to get over the line, he helped start it all four years ago.
Jesus deserves a lot of credit for that.
