Gaël Clichy has said Arsenal should have targeted Alexander Isak rather than Viktor Gyökeres this summer as they attempt to evolve as an attacking force.
Gyökeres became Arsenal’s headline summer signing when he joined the club from Sporting CP in July in a deal worth up to £64m.
The arrival of the Sweden international to spearhead a revitalised forward line that includes fellow new recruits Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze satisfied the clamour for the club to recruit a proven goalscorer, with manager Mikel Arteta hailing the 27-year-old as a “quick and powerful presence up front” with a “clinical edge”.
Gyökeres has scored twice for his new employers so far, with both goals coming in a 5-0 win over Leeds at the Emirates Stadium. The forward struggled against Manchester United and Liverpool either side of that game, however, and Clichy has questioned the quality of his link-up play, suggesting Arsenal must now rely on getting the ball forward quickly.
‘I think Alexander Isak was more suited’
“I don’t think he is the sort of player Arsenal are used to, I don’t think in the link-up side of the game he will provide what they need,” said Clichy, who made 264 appearances for Arsenal under former manager Arsène Wenger. “I think someone like Isak was more suited, but [Gyökeres] will add something Arsenal didn’t have.
“When you look at the players they have brought, they want to use those lines, use those wingers, create one-on-ones and get the ball into the box quickly. I think we will see a new Arsenal, an Arsenal that is more looking towards those situations.
“Will it always work? I don’t know, like we saw against Manchester United and Liverpool, against top centre-halves, it is not that easy. But I think that is what we are going to see more of this season, more freedom for the wingers, getting the ball into the box for the new signing.”
‘It was down to whoever could match the price tag’
Clichy, who was part of Arsenal’s 2005 “Invincibles” squad, believes Isak would have helped the club to develop a more cultured attacking approach had they been willing to rival Liverpool, who agreed a British record fee of £125m for the former Newcastle United man.
Instead, Arteta has built a side suited to bring out the best in Gyökeres, who scored 54 goals in 52 appearances for Sporting last season but favours a more direct approach.
“Arsenal wanted Isak for sure, any team would love him,” said Clichy. “But it was down to whoever could match the price tag and I don’t think Arsenal were prepared to do that.
“Football in 2025 is about who can spend the money. He is a special player but, for Arsenal, when you look at the additions of Madueke and Eze, it just feels right to have someone who is going in the box all the time.”
