Teddy Sheringham has not held back in his criticism of Arsenal striker Viktor Djoekersh, suggesting that the former Manchester United and Tottenham forward believes the 28-year-old Swedish talent is yet to iron out errors that are simply unacceptable at this stage of his career.
Speaking publicly, Sheringham expressed his astonishment:
It shocks me that he still plays like a child. I don’t think he understands what it means to be an attacking player and what is required from him.
His main bone of contention lies with Djoekersh's ball control. Sheringham insists that the forward too often loses possession, rather than helping his team retain the ball and continue the attacking momentum:
Strikers can play in different ways, but someone needs to explain to him that when the ball comes to him, he needs to hold onto it.
He does some things well, but he constantly loses the ball. At 28 years old, he really should have figured this out by now.
Djoekersh joined Arsenal from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2025, with the Gunners shelling out €63.5 million upfront, alongside an additional €10 million in potential bonuses. In his debut season, the forward bagged 21 goals and provided three assists in 55 appearances, playing a pivotal role in Arsenal's Premier League triumph. However, this current season has proven to be a far more challenging affair.
Under Mikel Arteta, the chance to shine has been limited, with Kai Havertz preferred as the central attacking option. Djoekersh has clocked just 207 minutes across five matches in all competitions without finding the back of the net or contributing an assist. Even in the Premier League, he has managed a mere 29 minutes in two outings.
On a more positive note, Djoekersh made headlines during the international break, scoring in all four of Sweden's matches, contributing to two vital wins against Romania, 2-1 and 1-0.
With Havertz's recent injury, the Swedish striker might get the opportunity to reclaim his spot in Arsenal's starting XI. But even four goals on the international stage have done little to sway Sheringham's opinion, as the former forward remains unimpressed with the fundamental aspects of Djoekersh's game.
