A New Era for Arsenal
A short walk from Holloway Road station to Emirates Stadium is all it takes, but on Wednesday evening, it was clear that Arsenal fans had come to see one man. Viktor Gyokeres’s name was everywhere—on shirts, scarves, and lips—as supporters arrived eager for a first glimpse of their big summer signing. The excitement around the club-record shirt sales is justified, as Arsenal have finally secured their long-awaited striker after paying £64 million to Sporting.
The question now is whether Gyokeres can be the final piece in Arsenal’s jigsaw, especially after three consecutive seasons of finishing as runners-up in the Premier League. It has been 21 years since the last time Arsenal were crowned champions, and the challenge for Gyokeres is to score the goals that end that long wait.
Fierce Competition Ahead
The competition will be fierce. Liverpool have strengthened again, signing Florian Wirtz for over £100 million and with ambitions of bringing Newcastle’s Alexander Isak to the party as well. Chelsea and Manchester City have also spent heavily, making the Premier League even more competitive.
Gyokeres received a huge cheer when his name was read out before Wednesday’s friendly against Villarreal, but the start was quiet. He fed off scraps in a 3-2 defeat, suggesting a period of adaptation lies ahead. However, this cannot last long. Arsenal begin their campaign away at Manchester United next week, and they need their new striker firing quickly.
A Tough Start
Gyokeres has established himself as one of the most lethal marksmen in Europe, scoring 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting. However, his early days in youth football in Sweden were different from many other countries, with no league tables until players are older. Despite this, those at his first club, IFK Aspudden-Tellus, are in little doubt about who was the top scorer in those early days. His talent was obvious.
“We don’t count until the age of 14, but it was clear he scored the most,” said Bjorn Thuresson, president of IFK Aspudden-Tellus. “He always wanted to go straight to the goal. He was all about finding the quickest way to score and finish, regardless of where he was on the pitch.”
Gyokeres’ first steps in the game were on gravel pitches, which were common in Stockholm due to the wear and tear of so many teams using them. “You had to stand on your feet—otherwise, you would get bruised all over,” said Thuresson. “There were things that as a young player you had to adapt to.”
A Man in a Hurry
After a bright start to his youth career, Gyokeres’ road to the top has been a long and difficult one. A move to Brighton in 2018 proved unsuccessful, with Gyokeres sent on loan three times before eventually joining Coventry on a permanent deal. His stint there is viewed as a turning point, and coaches at the club have remarked how he was “in a hurry” to kickstart his career.
Gyokeres went on to score 40 goals in his two full seasons with Coventry, earning a move to Sporting in 2023, where his career really took off. “From our point of view here in Portugal, we understand why Arsenal want Gyokeres,” said David Novo, executive editor at Portuguese newspaper Record. “Arsenal don’t have a striker like Gyokeres with the way he plays. He is really good at exploring spaces behind the defence, he pressurises defenders. He is powerful and fast with the ball, scores a lot of goals, and I think that is the part that is missing at Arsenal.”
A Statement of Intent
Gyokeres has chosen to wear the No14 shirt, made famous by Arsenal’s record goalscorer, Thierry Henry. He has also spoken about how he is out for “revenge” after failing to make a single Premier League appearance during his three years with Brighton. “He is ready,” says Novo. “The way he performed over here in the last two seasons, it was amazing. I know the Premier League is stronger, he will face better defenders than here in Portugal, but he showed in the Champions League last season that he can perform. I think Gyokeres has that desire, almost an obsession, to show he is ready for the Premier League.”
All the Right Ingredients
At 27, Gyokeres is a signing for the here and now, with Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s owners determined to secure silverware this season. A key factor in Arsenal moving for Gyokeres was his prowess in front of goal and ability to finish with both feet. He was also singled out for his skill at carrying the ball—something that stems partly from the early days of the Swede’s career.
Gyokeres spent time playing as a winger at Aspudden-Tellus, and it was not until joining IF Brommapojkarna as a 16-year-old that he was fully converted into a striker. His tendency to drift wide could help strengthen Arsenal’s left flank, which has struggled in comparison to the right. Only two players in Portugal’s top flight attempted more dribbles than Gyokeres last season, and that helped the Swede finish second for chances created from open play.
A Long and Difficult Journey
The arrival of Gyokeres could also lead to a shift in style from Arsenal, who have been noticeably more direct with their passing in pre-season. That approach would suit Gyokeres, who thrives on running in behind, and another of the characteristics Arsenal like about the striker is his movement off the ball. Gyokeres is also, crucially, a hard worker, and his willingness to press defenders from the front is in keeping with the rest of Arsenal’s frontline.
Gyokeres had to be patient this summer, waiting while the Gunners and Sporting haggled over a fee. His camp believed they had a gentleman’s agreement allowing him to leave for £59 million—a claim Sporting dispute. The departure of sporting director Hugo Viana, now at Manchester City, complicated matters. “If Hugo Viana were still at Sporting, the deal would have been done in an hour,” said Jonathan Chalkias, one of Gyokeres’ agents. In the end, a deal took months, with Gyokeres’ camp making financial “sacrifices” to get the move over the line.
“I just felt that it was the right club for me,” says Gyokeres. “I started here [in England], it feels like a long time ago. I think I’ve improved a lot since then. Now I want to prove myself for real and perform together with the team. I can’t wait.”