Dream Team managers divided over Viktor Gyokeres despite favourable first fixture

THERE are few Dream Team players as intriguing as Viktor Gyokeres (£5m) ahead of the new season. In 2025/26, the 28-year-old scored 21 goals in all competitions and contributed to Arsenal’s first Premier League title in over two decades but he also copped plenty of criticism and even became a punchline among harsher social media users. PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW: £100,000 PRIZE POT! World beater, busted flush, or something else? Credit: Dream Team Gyokeres was signed for £64million having scored 54 goals for Sporting CP in 2024/25 and was supposed to be the clinical box presence the Gunners desperately needed. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! In some ways, he fits the bill. 6ft 2in tall and capable of an uncatchable top speed, he engages opposition centre-backs and gets on the end of chances. Unfortunately, the Sweden international has been more wasteful in Arsenal colours compared to his prolific two-year spell in Portugal. And his technical limitations are obvious when compared to the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz — it was telling that Mikel Arteta opted to start the latter in the Champions League final. But it would be wrong to label Gyokeres a flop, as many rival fans have been quick to do. Play Dream Team this season! £100,000 in prize money up for grabs in 2026/27 Free to enter Play in Mini Leagues against your mates £60,000 jackpot for the overall winner £1,000 prize for winning Gameweek 1 Play Dream Team now! To achieve a tally of 21 goals while blowing hot and cold is evidence of a formidable threat. Most read in Football Only Erling Haaland (£8.5m) and Igor Thiago (£4.5m) scored more goals among Dream Team strikers last season. Gyokeres won over some doubters with his performances against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final, particularly his battling, selfless effort in the second leg. He looks like a world beater when everything clicks, which is what makes him such an interesting Dream Team prospect. Many gaffers are split on Gyokeres Credit: Getty A proper No9 who represents the best team in the country is a priority pick on paper but many gaffers will be happy to go without him. It’s still early days but, at the time of writing, he appears in 15.4% of teams, making him the fourth most selected forward in the game. Gyokeres is an appealing option for Gameweek 1 as Arsenal are set to host newly-promoted Coventry (his former club) in the curtain raiser on Friday 21st August. Dream Team bosses can wait for the starting line-ups before confirming their team, a useful bonus exclusive to GW1, and if Gyokeres is selected to start against the Sky Blues then his ownership may increase sharply in the hour or so before kick-off. Open to residents of UK and Rep of Ireland, 18+ only. T&Cs apply. Comment now