Mikel Arteta told one player will cost Arsenal the Premier League title

Mikel Arteta has been warned that Arsenal cannot win the Premier League with Viktor Gyokeres, described as merely "okay," as their main striker. Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal in a £64 million summer transfer from Sporting, has scored three goals in ten games, leading to criticism from some pundits despite Arteta's defense of his overall contributions to the team.

Arteta has consistently supported Gyokeres, emphasizing that the striker helps the team even when not scoring, and Arsenal's current position as top of the Premier League and joint-top of the Champions League supports this view. However, fans have expressed disappointment given Gyokeres' impressive past record of 68 goals in 66 league games for Sporting, and the signing was initially seen as a significant coup amid competition from Manchester United.

Former Premier League winner Joleon Lescott has questioned Gyokeres' impact, stating that a title-winning striker must be "top" rather than "okay," and he doubts Arteta can lead Arsenal to a Premier League victory. Lescott suggested that Arsenal might fare better in the Champions League due to the format allowing for rotation and uncertainties in team form, unlike the consistent performance required in the league.

Additional criticism came from Chris Waddle, who questioned whether Gyokeres represents an upgrade over existing Arsenal players. Despite these concerns, Arsenal have recently won their last two games against Newcastle United and West Ham, climbing to the top of the Premier League table, which highlights the team's resilience amid the ongoing debate over Gyokeres' role.