Nasri Says Arteta Made the Wrong Striker Choice With Gyökeres

Samir Nasri Says Mikel Arteta Made Wrong Striker Choice With Viktor Gyökeres

Samir Nasri says Mikel Arteta made the wrong striker choice with Viktor Gyökeres, questioning his fit in Arsenal’s attacking system.

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Samir Nasri has raised questions over Arsenal’s attacking direction, and more specifically, the profile of striker brought in to lead the line.

The former Arsenal midfielder pointed directly at Viktor Gyökeres and how he fits into Mikel Arteta’s system.

In his view, the issue is not quality. It is balance.

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Nasri believes Arsenal needed a striker who connects better with midfielders, someone who can drop deep, hold the ball, and bring others into play.

Instead, he feels Gyökeres offers something different.

“He should have signed a striker who can create the link with the midfield,” Nasri said. “Gyökeres is kind of like Haaland, but not as good and without any hold-up play.”

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It is a direct comparison, and it puts the focus on style rather than reputation.

What Nasri is really talking about is how Arsenal build attacks.

Under Arteta, the team is built around control. They keep possession, move the ball patiently, and try to break teams down through structure rather than chaos.

That system works well when everything clicks. But in games where space is tight, things can slow down.

That is where the striker becomes important.

Arsenal have had matches where they dominate the ball but struggle to turn that dominance into clear chances. The final pass is there, but the final connection is missing.

Nasri’s argument is that this is where a different type of striker matters. Not just someone who finishes chances, but someone who helps create them with his movement and hold-up play.

Gyökeres, in his view, is more direct. He looks to attack space quickly. He wants to finish moves, not always build them.

That difference in style is what Nasri is pointing at.

It is not really about one good player or a bad decision. It is about how the pieces fit together on the pitch.

Arsenal have tried different attacking options in recent seasons, and each one changes the rhythm of the team slightly. Some bring more control, others bring more speed in transition.

Nasri’s comments sit in the middle of that debate. He is questioning whether Arsenal have the right balance up front for the way they want to play.