Viktor Gyokeres Told He Is Too Heavy As Arsenal Star Striker Faces Fitness Concerns

Arsenal’s £63.5 million summer signing Viktor Gyokeres has found himself in the middle of a storm — and not the kind he expected when he made his big Premier League return. Instead of headlines celebrating a dream move, the Swedish striker is battling concerns over his weight, fitness, adaptation, and overall readiness for the unforgiving pace of English football.

Signed from Sporting CP to usher in a new era of firepower at the Emirates, Gyokeres’ first few weeks have brought more questions than confidence. From the scorching Hong Kong debut to a worrying muscular injury, this has not been the smooth takeoff Arsenal fans imagined.

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A Shaky Start For Arsenal’s New No. 9

Gyokeres arrived with a reputation as a powerful, late-blooming striker — one who reinvented himself after four quiet years at Brighton. His explosive numbers at Coventry and his dominance in Portugal convinced Arsenal to take the plunge. But a drawn-out transfer saga cost him valuable conditioning time.

His debut, a 1–0 loss to Spurs in Hong Kong, exposed the gaps. Gyokeres looked off-tempo, a step slower, and — as social media never fails to notice — “a little heavy.” Those whispers grew louder when he signaled discomfort and was substituted at halftime against Burnley, despite scoring the opening goal.

Mikel Arteta didn’t hide his concern.

“He hasn’t had many muscular issues … that’s never a good sign for a very explosive player.”

And the alarm bells have continued to ring.

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Schwarz: Mental Fatigue + Physical Weight = Tough Start

Former Arsenal midfielder Stefan Schwarz gave perhaps the bluntest assessment yet. Speaking with Hajper, he suggested the problems run deeper than just a minor injury.

“I believe Viktor Gyokeres is not fully fit yet … it’s not just physical, but also mental tiredness from adapting to new expectations.”

Schwarz believes the striker’s struggles are a mix of:

• Fitness levels not yet at Premier League standards

• Psychological strain of a huge move

• Learning Arteta’s fast, demanding attacking system

• Needing time to build on-field chemistry

Still, he remains optimistic about the long-term picture — if Gyokeres tightens up physically.

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“He’s A Heavy Player… He Needs To Get A Bit Lighter”

Schwarz didn’t sugarcoat the fitness issue.

“He’s a heavy player. I think getting a bit lighter would help.”

He added the classic line:

“Sometimes the dog who barks loudest is not always the strongest.”

In simple terms — the Premier League is faster, more physical, more intense. And Gyokeres needs to shed a few kilos, sharpen up, and hit the conditioning levels required to survive weekly battles with defenders who move like sprinters and tackle like wrestlers.

Schwarz also emphasized the importance of a proper pre-season — something Gyokeres didn’t really get.

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The Bigger Picture: Will Gyokeres Come Good?

Despite the noise, Gyokeres is in the perfect environment to thrive:

• A tactically elite manager

• A squad overflowing with creativity

• Competition that keeps him sharp

• A system built for aggressive, goal-hungry strikers

He may not play every match immediately, but once his fitness catches up, he will be dangerous. Schwarz believes the partnership between Arsenal and Gyokeres will flourish — and even benefit Sweden and Graham Potter in the long run.

After all, his finishing ability is proven. His work rate is elite. And his mentality is top-tier.

But the Premier League is a beast.
And right now, that beast is asking him to lighten the load — literally