The weight of expectation settled heavily on Viktor Gyokeres the moment he arrived at Arsenal. Brought in for a substantial fee, he was envisioned as the missing piece, the final catalyst to transform a consistently close-but-not-quite team into champions.
Yet, his initial impact was muted. A mere five Premier League goals in his first six months sparked doubts, whispers questioning whether Arsenal had made the right choice. While his overall tally reached seventeen across all competitions, the crucial Premier League goals weren’t arriving with the consistency Arteta craved.
Despite the scrutiny, Arsenal finds itself on the precipice of glory, nine points clear at the Premier League summit and poised for a Champions League semi-final. Gyokeres has contributed, but a compelling “what if” scenario is now taking shape, fueled by a surprising voice: former Liverpool hero Vladimir Smicer.
Smicer believes a different striker, Patrik Schick, could have already secured the Premier League title for the Gunners. He paints a picture of a clinical finisher, a master of angles and a player possessing a devastating left foot – a classic goalscorer in the truest sense.
Schick’s career has been hampered by persistent muscle injuries, a frustrating reality that prevented him from reaching his full potential. But Smicer insists that, given the same opportunities, Schick would have demonstrably outperformed Gyokeres, converting chances with ruthless efficiency.
The Czech international boasts an impressive record of 97 goals in 203 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen, coupled with 25 goals in 52 international caps. He’s a proven scorer, capable of moments of breathtaking brilliance – like his unforgettable goal from the halfway line against Scotland during Euro 2020.
That strike, a contender for the Puskas Award and voted Goal of the Tournament, showcased Schick’s extraordinary talent and audacious skill. It’s a reminder of the impact he could have made, the goals he could have delivered, had fate led him to the Emirates Stadium.
While Arsenal’s current position is enviable, Smicer’s assessment lingers, a tantalizing glimpse into a potentially even more triumphant season. The question remains: could a different striker have been the difference between a near miss and a glorious victory?
