Emile Heskey believes Arsenal should resist any temptation to cut their losses on Viktor Gyokeres, although he doubts the striker will ever hold down a regular starting place. The 48-year-old's assessment, reported by Football.London and Mirror Football, comes as Mikel Arteta's side turn their attention to Sunday's Premier League trip to Liverpool.

'I can't see him being a regular'

Heskey, speaking about Arteta's options up front, argued that the Swede remains useful in a squad that will play a heavy schedule. "I wouldn't tell Arsenal to cut their losses, because you're always going to need a backup with the number of games they will play," he said. He added: "I definitely wouldn't say cut your losses, but I can't see him being a regular, if I'm honest."

"Gyokeres is a little bit different to the way that Arsenal want to play," Heskey said, pointing to the striker's preference for running into space rather than holding the ball up and bringing others in, and noting that such space is scarce in the Premier League. "I was hoping it would work out for him, but you can see why it hasn't," he added, describing the player as more of an old-school centre-forward.

Havertz ahead in the pecking order

Heskey was warmer about Kai Havertz, praising his movement and link-up play and recalling what he liked about him during his Chelsea days. Arteta made a similar call earlier this month when he described Havertz as capable of scoring 30 goals a season. "He has that ability. The manager stated: "That is why he is playing there as well, and that is why we signed him,"

Asked about Gyokeres and whether he was short of confidence, Arteta called it "a very personal question" and instead highlighted what the striker transmits day to day. "What he transmits to me is an incredible will and determination and work-rate to improve and help the team," he said, adding that Gyokeres remains "always an option to play" and that small margins change the narrative around a forward.

A wait for the Liverpool trip

Gyokeres was signed from Sporting in the summer of 2025 for £64m and finished last season as Arsenal's leading scorer in the title-winning campaign, according to Mirror Football. This term he has slipped behind Havertz, with most of his outings coming from the bench.

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