Patrick Vieira Concerned About €64m Signing After Arsenal Defeat

Patrick Vieira questions Viktor Gyokeres’ impact after Arsenal loss to Manchester United, raising concern over the striker’s form.

Arsenal’s Premier League title push suffered a major blow after a 3–2 home defeat to Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium. It marked the Gunners’ first home loss of the season and cut their lead at the top of the table to four points.

The match again exposed Arsenal’s difficulties from open play. Both goals came from set-pieces — a Lisandro Martínez own goal and a late Mikel Merino header from a corner — highlighting ongoing attacking concerns.

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Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira singled out summer signing Viktor Gyokeres after the defeat, admitting he is concerned about the striker’s lack of goals.

Gyokeres arrived from Sporting CP for a reported £64 million to lead Arsenal’s line and provide a consistent scoring threat. However, his adaptation has proved difficult.

The Swedish forward has scored five Premier League goals this season, with only two since mid-September, and has recently lost his starting place to Gabriel Jesus.

Speaking after the match, Vieira made his concerns clear regarding Arsenal’s striker situation.

“Of course it is a concern because you want your No.9 to score goals. You want them to get into double figures and that’s not the case right now,” Vieira said on Sky Sport.

He stressed that responsibility does not fall solely on Gyokeres, adding that Arsenal must improve their attacking patterns.

“They need to create more for the strikers and put them in better positions. Sometimes you need more balls in the box rather than recycling possession.

Arsenal Legend Questions Mentality and Leadership

Vieira’s criticism extended beyond Gyokeres, as he questioned Arsenal’s mentality and leadership following the defeat.

Despite remaining top of the league, the former captain felt the manner of the loss was worrying. He highlighted the lack of attacking impact from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, while calling for stronger leadership on the pitch.

Vieira insisted Arsenal must play with greater urgency and take more risks if they want to maintain their title advantage.

The defeat continues a difficult spell for Arsenal, who have now dropped seven points in their last three league matches, including draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

Mikel Arteta defended his squad’s mentality post-match but acknowledged the frustration surrounding recent performances.

With a Champions League fixture midweek followed by a Premier League trip to Leeds United, attention will remain firmly on Gyokeres to justify his price tag and deliver when it matters most.

Gyokeres Under the Spotlight

Patrick Vieira’s assessment reflects growing scrutiny around Arsenal’s attack. While the Gunners remain league leaders, expectations on Viktor Gyokeres are rising rapidly.

If Arsenal are to end their long wait for a Premier League title, their record signing striker must rediscover his scoring touch — and quickly.

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