Ian Wright would be happy with a return of ’10 to 15’ goals from Viktor Gyokeres in his first Premier League season with Arsenal.
The Gunners’ long pursuit of a new centre forward came to an end this summer with the Sweden international joining from Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth £64million.
The former Coventry City star spent two years in the Portuguese capital where he grew into one of Europe’s most feared marksmen, scoring 97 goals in 102 games – averaging a goal every 87 minutes.
After a season where no Arsenal player managed to hit double figures in the league, there is real hope Gyokeres can finally solve a long-standing issue and end Arsenal’s wait for a Premier League title.
Mohamed Salah was last season’s top scorer with 29 with Erling Haaland scooping the Golden Boot in each of the two previous seasons with hauls of 27 and 36 in 2023-24 and 2022-23 respectively.
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After hitting 39 league goals in 33 appearances in Portugal last term, Wright says he will settle for a more modest haul from Gyokeres in his first season in the English top flight.
Gary Neville asked the Arsenal legend how many goals does Gyokeres have to score to be deemed a success in the Premier League in the latest episode of Stick to Football.
Wright said: ‘I think if he scores 10 to 15 goals in the Premier League with another five or six pitching in obviously.’
Neville replied: ‘10? 10 is low isn’t it. 10 is low, eh?
Pushed again by Neville, Wright settled on 15 with fellow guests Jamie Carragher and Jill Scott stunned.
Asked by Roy Keane if he would have been happy with 15 during his playing days, Wright added: ‘It’s a different time.
‘I don’t want to put him under pressure. I think if he can get 15 and go from there that would be magnificent because we have to get the other guys going as well.
‘I will take 15 in the Premier League. We were 17 goals behind them (Liverpool) last season, if we can get someone to bring another 15…’
Gyokeres will have the chance to open his Premier League account against his former Sporting head coach in Ruben Amorim when Manchester United host Arsenal on Sunday.