'The striker position is the most important place to strengthen next year' Ray Parlour on where Arsenal need to improve over the summer

Arsenal are close to an unprecedented run, with Premier League and European success potentially within two matches. Ray Parlour links the outcome to how the club handles missed opportunities, referencing Arsenal’s 2003-04 Invincibles as a benchmark. He focuses on recruitment and striker Viktor Gyokeres, signed for significant money, noting fluctuating form but praising standout performances, including two goals against Spurs. Parlour believes Gyokeres has improved, especially in Europe against Atletico Madrid, where his power and ability to turn defenders caused problems. He suggests Arsenal should play quicker from back to front to better suit Gyokeres, and he emphasizes that this is his first Premier League season after scoring in Portugal, so he should be given time to fully adapt.

"Arsenal are standing on the brink of an unprecedented season. With Premier League and European supremacy just two matches away, this could go down as the greatest campaign in the club's stories history, or another classic case of missed opportunities. For Ray Parlour, who was a key man in Arsenal's last great side the Invincibles, who went the entire 2003-04 Premier League season undefeated en route to lifting the title his former club will look back on missed opportunities should they fail to get both trophies over the line."

"You may like Parlour's focus was largely on recruitment and, in particular, striker Viktor Gyokeres, who was signed for huge money last summer. Gyokeres has had ups and downs during this season, there's no doubt about that, Parlous tells FFT on behalf of 10bet, who offer a variety of live betting. Obviously, the big plus he had was scoring two against Spurs at the Tottenham Stadium fantastic goals."

"But I think he's really gotten better, and I think the fans are really now looking at him and saying, Well, look at his work.' Especially in Europe, I thought against Atletico Madrid, he was outstanding. They just couldn't handle the power he had and the way he turns defenders. Sometimes you've got to play to his strengths a little bit more. They seem to play from the back too often; maybe just go a little bit quicker, back to front, which might suit him a little bit more as well."

"But it's his first season. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. He's come from Sporting Lisbon not disrespecting the Portuguese League, but it's a lot easier to score goals in Portugal than it is in the Premier League. So give him the benefit of the doubt this season, and let's see how he goes next season. Hopefully, he's getting the hang of it"

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