Target Arsenal deemed too expensive during the summer already has 15 goals and assists in just seven games

Arsenal might have just missed out on the chance to sign one of Europe’s best players before the competition for his signature becomes too hot to handle.

Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar – Director of Football at the Emirates Stadium – decided to walk away from one summer target due to the price tag, although the player in question is certainly living up to his lofty valuation right now after a stunning start to the 2024/25 campaign.

So, who did Arsenal deem to be too expensive? Let’s take a look…

Arsenal may regret Viktor Gyokeres decision

Arsenal might rue their decision not to sign Viktor Gyokeres during the summer transfer window.

Fabrizio Romano claimed that the Gunners deemed Gyokeres to be “too expensive” due to his £86m release clause, telling Men in Blazers: “Arsenal could add another offensive player. I don’t think it will be an expensive player like Viktor Gyokeres. I think this is too expensive, but maybe a new winger, a different type of player who can provide fresh energy behind Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.”

The Italian was eventually spot on, as Raheem Sterling arrived on loan from Chelsea.

Now – however – Arsenal may be regretting their decision to ignore Gyokeres in the summer.

Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Clube de Portugal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Portrait Session on August 27, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Gyokeres has started the 2024/25 campaign on fire, remarkably scoring seven goals and providing three assists in just five appearances for Sporting CP.

The Sporting CP No.9 has also just scored three goals and assisted another two in two UEFA Nations League outings for Sweden – meaning he has ten goals and five assists in just seven games so far this season.

That is an incredible return – to say the least – although nobody should be surprised after Gyokeres scored 43 goals and provided 15 assists in 50 appearances last term.

The Gunners should get another chance to sign the Sweden international

At the start of this article, we opined that Arsenal may have missed the boat with Gyokeres, due to the fact that Europe’s elite clubs will surely be circling around the Swede right now.

Sweden's forward #17 Viktor Gyokeres (L) vies for the ball during the League C Group C1 football match of the UEFA Nations League between Sweden an...

However, that could be survivable for the Gunners, given the fact Real Madrid just signed a striker in Kylian Mbappe, while Bayern Munich have Harry Kane and Manchester City own Erling Haaland.

Another season without a reliable No.9 coming up clutch for Arsenal should tempt Arteta into triggering that £86m release clause next summer, as the Gunners could certainly use a lethal marksman in front of goal, one who can steal points from games the north Londoners deserve nothing from.