Liverpool hero Vladimir Smicer believes Arsenal ‘might have won the Premier League already’ had they signed a £26m striker instead of Viktor Gyokeres.

Gyokeres has had a mixed first season at Arsenal following his £64m move from Sporting last summer, scoring 17 goals in all competitions.

There was serious concerns over the Sweden international after he netted just five Premier League goals in the first six months of the season, but Gyokeres has at least improved his output since January with 14 goals for club and country.

Doubts remain over Gyokeres’ long-term viability as Arsenal’s first-choice striker, however, and the Gunners are believed to be interested in signing a new No. 9 this summer.

Mikel Arteta hoped Gyokeres would be the final piece of the jigsaw in an Arsenal team that had finished second in the Premier League for three successive season.

Despite the question marks over Gyokeres, he has played a part in taking Arsenal nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and on the verge of a Champions League semi-final.

But former Liverpool star Smicer believes Arsenal would already virtually be Premier League champions if they had Patrik Schick leading the line instead of...