Viktor Gyokeres has failed to score in his last five Premier League games for Arsenal and concerns have emerged over the Gunners’ ability to go the distance this season
Paul Scholes has admitted he has not been impressed with Arsenal’s offensive play this season after the Gunners recorded another narrow Premier League win at the weekend over Crystal Palace.
Eberechi Eze’s goal against his former team was the only difference between the two sides as Mikel Arteta’s men moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League standings. The win was their eighth straight victory in all competitions.
However, despite entering the fourth month of the 2025/26 season in perfect form, question marks have emerged over Arsenal’s quality in the final third. Arteta’s men have scored more than two goals in just three games and have won by a single goal four times.
After scoring five goals in his first 13 games for the club, Gyokeres has been the subject of criticism from some for failing to deliver consistent goals following his initial £55 million move from Sporting CP.
Over a week ago, Gary Lineker insisted the striker must “start scoring” if Arsenal were to end their 21-year wait to become English champions. “I think for Arsenal to really realise their ambitions, he’s going to have to start scoring a lot of goals,” he told The Rest is Football podcast.
“I think it’s a big spell coming up for him over the next few games.”
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Now, Scholes has been discussing Arsenal’s possible lack of conviction in the final third. The former Manchester United star has admitted that he’s yet to be thrilled by the north Londoners’ performances this season.
“After nine games, at this point in every season, you’ve probably seen a performance where you think; ‘They’re going to win the league’,” Scholes said on his ‘The Good, The Bad & The Football’. “I still don’t think I’ve seen that from Arsenal or anybody yet.”
He went on: “I think the closest we probably got to it was the Newcastle game away – where I thought they were really good. Now, not that I’m not impressed by it. Defensively, yeah, you have to be impressed by it, but I still don’t think it’s clicking going forward.
“Like last couple years, you’ve seen Liverpool play. I remember watching Liverpool at Man Utd last year. I thought; ‘Jesus, that’s a good team’. Now, I know United weren’t in a great place. You watched City over the last four years, and think; ‘F***ing hell, they’re a good team’.
“Especially going forward – that’s what excites me – not so much with the defensive side of it. But we’re watching them go forward and the goals they score. I haven’t seen that from any team yet where I’ve thought; ‘They’re going to win the league’.”
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