Former Liverpool midfielder Vladimir Smicer has said Arsenal might have already secured the Premier League title if they had signed Patrik Schick instead of Viktor Gyokeres.
He criticised Mikel Arteta’s decision to sign Gyokeres from Sporting CP, arguing the Bayer Leverkusen forward offers a more clinical edge.
Gyokeres has scored 17 goals in 44 appearances across all competitions, but his early season return of five league goals in six months raised concerns over Arsenal’s finishing.
Smicer said: “Patrik Schick is a classic goalscorer.
“In the box, he’s very, very clever and he can finish from all angles.
“His left foot is really good.
“Unfortunately for him, he’s suffered a lot from muscle injuries.
“If Schick had joined Arsenal instead of Viktor Gyokeres, I think they might have won the Premier League title already.”
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Schick, who plays for Bayer Leverkusen, has scored 16 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions.
Despite Arsenal sitting nine points clear at the top of the table, Smicer insisted the Czech striker’s finishing ability would have made a difference.
He said: “With the same chances, he would have scored a lot more goals.
“I’m certain of that because he is a much better finisher. I’d still like to see him in the Premier League.”
Gyokeres has improved in the second half of the campaign, but debate continues over his efficiency in front of goal as Arsenal push for the title.
