![\"Arsenal](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2264333959.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646\")
\t<\/div>Joleon Lescott has named two Premier League strikers Arsenal \u2018should have signed\u2019 instead of Viktor Gyokeres.<\/p>\n
Gyokeres has endured an underwhelming first season at the Emirates Stadium following his \u00a364m summer move from Sporting.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old scored almost a goal a game in Portugal but has been nowhere near as prolific in the Premier League, netting 11 in 29 games.<\/p>\n
Gyokeres has improved since the turn of the New Year but Arsenal fans still expected more from a player who was seen as the final piece of the jigsaw in Mikel Arteta\u2019s squad.<\/p>\n
Sweden international Gyokeres has even dropped out of the team in some games and Lescott believes this is all the evidence needed to show his signing was a mistake.<\/p>\n
Arsenal did need a new No.9 last summer but Lescott believes they should have signed Joao Pedro or Hugo Ekitike instead of Gyokeres.<\/p>\n
Pedro has scored 19 goals in all competitions since his \u00a360m move to Chelsea last summer, while Ekitike has 17 goals since joining Liverpool for a little under \u00a380m.<\/p>\n \u2018I thought Viktor\u00a0Gyokeres\u00a0was brought in to start for Arsenal,\u2019 former England, Manchester City, Wolves and Everton defender Lescott told Sky Bet<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018You\u2019re\u00a0not spending that amount of money, having\u00a0identified\u00a0that position, for him not to play.\u00a0Surely,\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0been brought in to play in all the big games.<\/p>\n \u2018They brought in\u00a0Gyokeres\u00a0because they thought he was the best of the available strikers.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s\u00a0easy to say now that Arsenal should have gone for Hugo\u00a0Ekitike. Joao Pedro is another striker I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0know why Arsenal\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0buy.\u2019<\/p>\n Gyokeres is not the only Arsenal summer signing to have struggled at times, with Eberechi Eze also going through a difficult spell earlier in the season \u2013 although his form has picked up in recent weeks.<\/p>\n Asked about Eze\u2019s start at Arsenal, Lescott added: \u2018He\u2019s\u00a0found his position at Arsenal, but he\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0found the rhythm yet.<\/p>\n \u2018His struggles are just down to current form \u2013 we can get carried away and think, \u201cIt\u2019s never going to work\u201d.\u00a0Having gone there and now needing to perform is slightly different when\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0previously been given the freedom to make mistakes.<\/p>\n \u2018He knows that when\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0playing for a top team, where competition is so strong, you\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0come in and not perform. You\u00a0have to\u00a0\u2013 otherwise you\u2019re coming off.\u2019<\/p>\n Arsenal head into their Premier League clash with Bournemouth on Saturday with a nine point cushion over title rivals Manchester City.<\/p>\n Pep Guardiola\u2019s men do have a game in hand, however, and the Gunners must still travel to the Etihad on April 19.<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on ![\"Newcastle](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-2255644217.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=594\")
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