"Gyokeres Could Be the 'Missing Link' to Propel Arsenal to Title Glory, Channeling His Inner Thierry Henry!"

ARSENAL legend Ray Parlour reckons Viktor Gyokeres could be the “missing link” to finally end the Gunners’ 22-year wait for a Premier League title.

Parlour, 52, likened Gyokeres to after the Swede’s North London derby performance and thinks his recent form could help pip rivals Manchester City to the title.

Ray Parlour has tipped Viktor Gyokeres to be Arsenal’s ‘missing link’ in the title raceCredit: Reuters Gyokeres has hit form since the turn of the yearCredit: Shutterstock Editorial

Gyokeres, who scored twice during Arsenal’s 4-1 thrashing of Spurs, has hit form since the turn of the year.

The £54.8m summer signing has now scored more goals in 2026 than any other Premier League player.

Parlour, who himself won three Prem titles with Arsenal, has claimed that Gyokeres’ form could be the difference-maker during the title run-in.

Speaking to SunSport with BetMGM , Parlour said: “If he can do what he did against Tottenham week in, week out then that would be fantastic.

“He looked like a different player against Tottenham. He looks a lot more confident.

“Not just his goals he scored, but the all-round play was much better. He was getting into the right positions. The last goal was like prime Thierry Henry back in the day.

“Henry used to do that on a regular basis. So, if he can carry on that form, that would be the missing link, because that’s probably where Arsenal are weakest.

“If you look at the team in general, it’s the strike force.”

Parlour likened Gyokeres to his old teammate Thierry HenryCredit: Reuters

Gyokeres initially struggled for consistent form following his arrival from Sporting in the summer, but has finally started to find the net on a regular basis.

He has now scored eight goals in his last 12 games and has taken his tally for the season to 15, bettering the numbers put up by the likes of , Bryan Mbeumo and Joao Pedro.

Parlour has urged Gyokeres to keep that consistency going in order to help Arsenal over the line.

He said: “You’ve got to do it week in, week out. That’s the hard bit.

“Thierry obviously did it week in, week out. And if Gyokeres can do that, that could be the difference this year, definitely.”

Arsenal have a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League and are looking to finally break their trend of finishing second, having been runners-up for the last three seasons in a row.

Parlour was part of the Arsenal squad that last lifted the league title in 2004, and the retired midfielder reckons the 22-year wait shows just how difficult it has become to get your hands on silverware.

He explained: “If you said to me in 2004 that you won’t win the league again for another 20-odd years, I’d have said ‘No chance. We’ll definitely win the league before that.’

“So, it just shows you how difficult it is and how hard it is to win that league.”

It is that opinion that makes Parlour think it would be “madness” for Arsenal to sack manager if the Gunners do somehow go trophyless yet again – despite some thinking the Spaniard’s time would be up if that happens.

He said: “The problem is, who is the right man? How many managers are out there?

“You can’t keep doing what other teams do, just keep picking managers for the sake of it and then sacking them.

“I just think it would be madness to get rid of him.

“I know we’d all be very disappointed if they come second again and I’ll be up there with them.

“People will say ‘we’ve got to get a change’, but change for who? That’s the big question.

“Who’s out there to do a job like Mikel Arteta? I don’t know.”