Arteta’s Viktor Gyokeres ultimatum as £75m Arsenal target gets message | Football | Sport

Arsenal are gearing up for their journey to Craven Cottage, as Mikel Arteta‘s squad aim to extend their lead in the Premier League. The Gunners have amassed a commendable 16 points from seven matches thus far.

With the international break now over, the English top tier resumes and so do the league leaders. Arsenal are set to face Fulham on Saturday evening and going into the weekend’s fixtures, they hold a slender one-point lead at the top. They’ll be aiming to strengthen this lead but will have to take on the Cottagers without skipper Martin Odegaard, who is due for an extended period out of action thanks to injury. Express Football provides a glimpse at the news emerging from the Emirates ahead of this match, including a Viktor Gyokeres ultimatum and a costly transfer target being told he’s too good for the Gunners’ rivals.

Mikel Arteta’s Viktor Gyokeres ultimatum

Arsenal had been desperate for a No. 9 for quite some time before this summer and Arteta’s wish was fulfilled when Swedish star Gyokeres joined for £64million. However, life hasn’t been smooth sailing in north London for him.

He has netted three goals in 10 appearances as an Arsenal player, which isn’t exactly dreadful, but these figures are overshadowed by the fact that he averaged 35 goals across two seasons in Portugal.

Arteta remains committed to his striker, but concedes he did present him with a stark choice upon his arrival. The Spanish manager stated: “I told him before the first meeting, the nine that I want is a nine that when he doesn’t score for six or eight games, he can handle that.

“If not, you have to go somewhere else because the pressure is gone, the expectation is going to be there. So if you put a number nine shirt for Arsenal, you have to be able to say, OK, six games, don’t score.”

Antoine Semenyo told he’s too good for Spurs

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has kicked off this season in blistering form. He has netted six league goals in just seven matches, a record only surpassed by Erling Haaland. The Cherries currently sit fourth in the table.

Such dazzling performances have naturally sparked transfer rumours and Arsenal have surfaced as a potential contender. Gabby Agbonlahor, speaking on talkSPORT, believes that not only would the £75m-rated Semenyo start immediately for the Gunners, but that he’s far too talented for bitter rivals Tottenham.

“I look at the league table, and name me a team Semenyo doesn’t start for on that left-hand side. Name one,” Abonglahor said. “He starts for Arsenal if [Eberechi] Eze plays in that number 10 position.

“[He’s] better than [Gabriel] Martinelli and [Leandro] Trossard. Better than [Cody] Gakpo. Starts for Spurs. Are Spurs big enough for him, though? Because he wants to play Champions League. He can do better than Spurs.”

Gabriel echoes Max Dowman praise

Brazilian centre-half Gabriel, fresh from international duty, was quizzed about the most skillful player in the Arsenal squad. While names like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli might spring to mind, Gabriel had other ideas.

He named Odegaard and Eze, but then told Sky Sports: “I think Max [Dowman] as well. This guy is unbelievable! I’ve never seen anything like him on the pitch.”

Gabriel isn’t the only one impressed by young talent Dowman. New signing Cristhian Mosquera recently said: “I don’t mean to compare, but his style and way of playing is like Lamine Yamal.

“His movements are Lamine-esque. When they told me he was 15, I couldn’t believe it. He really is an incredible player, and I think he’s going to be world-class.”