Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres Dismisses “Player Power” Debate Amid Summer Transfer Drama

Arsenal’s new striker Viktor Gyökeres has downplayed suggestions that footballers hold too much influence in transfers, after he and international teammate Alexander Isak sealed high-profile moves this summer.

The Swedish duo made headlines during the window, with Gyökeres leaving Sporting CP for Arsenal in a deal that dragged on for weeks, while Isak forced his way out of Newcastle United to join Liverpool on deadline day.

Sporting president Frederico Varandas had previously criticised Gyökeres during negotiations, accusing him of “blackmail and insults” as tensions rose around the transfer.

When asked about the idea of “player power” in football, Gyökeres was quick to offer a more balanced view.

“I congratulated Isak for the move,” he said. “I don’t really know the situation exactly, so it’s difficult for me to speak about that.

“But when it’s a player that is not wanted in a club, I think it’s the total opposite. He doesn’t have any power—the club can literally do whatever they want.”

Opinion: Are Players Really Holding All the Cards?

Gyökeres’ comments shine a light on a debate that has become louder every transfer window: do players control the game, or do clubs still hold the upper hand?

On the surface, it’s easy to point to examples like Isak—pushing for a move to Liverpool despite Newcastle’s reluctance—and say, “Yes, player power is real.” But Gyökeres’ words remind us that football isn’t that black-and-white. For every Isak who gets his dream transfer, there are countless players stuck on the fringes of squads, training alone, or loaned out indefinitely because a club decides they are surplus to requirements.

The truth is, modern football is a tug-of-war. Superstars with long contracts and high market value can sometimes tilt the balance in their favour, but ultimately, clubs still write the cheques, hold the registrations, and decide who plays and who sits.

For Arsenal fans, Gyökeres’ stance is refreshing. Rather than fanning the flames of entitlement, he’s showing humility and perspective—acknowledging that footballers aren’t always in control. For a player expected to shoulder huge expectations at the Emirates, that grounded mindset might be just as important as the goals he scores.

In the end, maybe the debate shouldn’t be about who holds the power—it should be about how both sides use it responsibly.