Arsenal May Turn to Two Premier League Standouts in January to Replace Struggling Eze and Gyokeres

It’s been a strange summer at the Emirates. After clinching the Premier League title and reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal walked away without a marquee striker – Vinícius Júnior and Julián Álvarez stayed put, and the club’s transfer board seemed content to gamble on the squad that was already in place.

That gamble is now looking a little shaky. Six league games into the campaign, both Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres have slipped down the pecking order. Eze, who arrived with a reputation for creativity, has managed just one assist in those six outings. Gyokeres, the £63.5 million Swede who helped lift the trophy last season, has yet to register a single goal contribution.

Sources close to the club, citing Football.London, say Mikel Arteta’s side have already earmarked two domestic talents for a January move: Eli Junior Kroupi of Bournemouth and Kevin Schade of Brentford. Both players have proven they can find the net and create chances in the Premier League, and both are on contracts that run well into the future – Kroupi until 2030 and Schade until 2028.

Kroupi’s story is one of quiet consistency. After joining Bournemouth in 2025, he notched 13 goals in 33 league appearances last season, a return that caught the eye of several top‑flight clubs. Unfortunately, a minor injury has kept him sidelined for a few weeks, but the expectation is that he’ll be back in training by October or November.

Schade, on the other hand, has been a more outspoken figure at Brentford. In the 2023‑24 season he contributed eight goals and four assists across 35 league games, and he’s already started the current campaign brightly with three goals in four appearances. His versatility – comfortable on either flank or as a central forward – makes him an attractive option for a side that likes to switch tactics on the fly.

Sweden’s head coach, Graham Potter, recently tried to put things into perspective regarding Gyokeres’ dip in form. “Things happen. Things go up and down, just like life does,” Potter said, reminding everyone that the Swede was a Premier League winner and a key figure in World Cup qualifying. “Players at this level will always get criticism at some point. But there is no problem here.” Gyokeres, who has barely featured this season – a 12‑minute cameo against Chelsea being his only league outing – remains in Sweden’s Nations League squad, so his international future looks secure.

Arsenal’s next test before the winter break comes against Brighton & Hove Albion away from home. If the Gunners can keep their perfect start, the temptation to add firepower may grow even stronger. A January swoop for Kroupi and Schade would not only provide immediate depth but also give Arteta two young, contract‑secure assets to build around for seasons to come.

Whether the rumors turn into reality remains to be seen, but the writing is on the wall: Arsenal are already thinking ahead, and the January market could bring a fresh wave of Premier League talent to North London.