Arsenal’s pursuit of a Premier League title has prompted renewed debate over whether a different striker choice could have changed the race much earlier. Vladimir Smicer, the former Liverpool midfielder and Champions League winner, has argued that Mikel Arteta’s side might already have secured the crown if Patrik Schick had been signed instead of Viktor Gyokeres.
Smicer made the claim while praising Schick’s finishing ability and calling him a “classic goalscorer.” He said the Bayer Leverkusen forward is “very, very smart” inside the box and can score from different angles, while also admitting that Schick’s recurring muscle injuries have limited his availability.
Why Smicer believes Schick would have suited Arsenal better
The Czech legend said Arsenal needed a more decisive finisher, especially in the first part of the season. He pointed to Gyokeres’ slow start in England and suggested that Schick would have turned more chances into goals.
Smicer’s view is simple: with the same service, Schick would have scored more. “If Schick had gone to Arsenal instead of Viktor Gyokeres, I think they could already have won the Premier League title,” he told BetVictor.
Gyokeres arrived from Sporting for €70 million and has since produced 17 goals in 44 matches across all competitions. Still, only five of those goals came in his first six months in the league, and that early return has fueled questions about whether Arsenal got the right profile for their attack.
Gyokeres’ numbers versus Schick’s output
The debate has become sharper because Schick has posted strong numbers for Leverkusen this season. The Czech forward has scored 16 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions, a return that supports Smicer’s argument about efficiency.
- Gyokeres: 17 goals in 44 matches for Arsenal in all competitions.
- Gyokeres: five Premier League goals in his first six months.
- Schick: 16 goals in 35 matches for Bayer Leverkusen this season.
- Arsenal’s lead in the league: nine points.
- Gyokeres’ transfer fee: €70 million from Sporting.
Smicer also said Schick’s left foot makes him a particularly dangerous striker. He noted that injuries have been the main concern around the Leverkusen forward, not his ability in front of goal.
Arsenal still in control despite the debate
Arsenal remain in a strong position in the title race, and the conversation around Gyokeres and Schick does not change their current advantage. Arteta’s team still hold a nine-point lead at the top and are balancing domestic pressure with European competition.
Their recent 1-0 win over Sporting in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals also showed the team’s continued control in key matches. Arsenal now return to league action against Bournemouth before facing Sporting again in the return leg.
The discussion over whether Schick would have delivered more goals than Gyokeres adds another layer to Arsenal’s season, but the club’s final success will still depend on how they manage the run-in and whether their attacking output stays strong in the decisive weeks ahead.
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