Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal's £64million signing last summer, is facing an uncertain future at the Emirates Stadium after being left out of the matchday squad for the opening two league games of the season.
The Sweden international was brought in to solve Arsenal's striker problems and contributed to the club's Premier League title triumph, but only one of his 14 league goals last season was match-winning. His move was controversial after he went on strike at Sporting to force the transfer, yet he has clearly not impressed Mikel Arteta, who has kept him on the bench so far this term.
Alvarez pursuit leaves Gyokeres in limbo
Behind the scenes, Arsenal were reportedly making a concerted effort to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid. The forward, regarded as one of Europe's finest, was at the centre of a transfer saga involving Barcelona, but Atletico dismissed the idea of selling him to their La Liga rivals.
That opened the door for Arsenal, with a mounting sense that Atletico might prefer to do business with a club outside Spain, alongside speculation that Gyokeres could head in the opposite direction. However, it emerged that Alvarez had zero interest in returning to England, leaving Arsenal red-faced.
What next for Gyokeres?
Had Arsenal secured Alvarez, it could have spelled trouble for Gyokeres, given Arteta's obvious fondness for Kai Havertz. That scenario now appears unlikely, and the former Coventry striker looks set to remain at Arsenal past tonight's 11pm transfer deadline.
Yet that does not guarantee his long-term future lies at the Emirates. His complete absence from both league fixtures will sound warning signals, and while game time should increase once the Champions League campaign begins, it would require something extraordinary for Gyokeres to force his way back into Arteta's plans.
Furthermore, Alvarez might have declined this time, but his stance could shift in the future, particularly given how fractured his relationship with Atletico seems to have become. This could be one to monitor over the coming months.
