Mikel Arteta has finally listened to the pleas of the Gunners faithful by moving for the prolific Sweden international
"When you look at the injuries and you look at the players that came, OK, he brought players – he got [Raheem] Sterling when everyone wanted a nine," Thierry Henry said on podcast, brought to you by , when assessing Mikel Arteta's transfer choices after seeing Arsenal finish second in the Premier League for the third year in a row. "He had time to get a nine, he had time. I’m not the coach, I don’t know how the discussion went. Everyone has been screaming for a nine."
The Arsenal faithful had indeed been "screaming" for a new striker throughout the 2024 summer window, but Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori and Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino were the only two major permanent deals that Arsenal closed, while Sterling arrived from Chelsea on loan. Arteta inexplicably decided to keep faith in Kai Havertz and the injury-plagued Gabriel Jesus – the only proper No.9 signed by the Spaniard in his entire reign to date – to finally get the Gunners over the title line, and unsurprisingly, it backfired.
Liverpool won the 2024-25 Premier League crown with four games to spare as Arsenal struggled for the consistency of previous seasons amid an injury crisis that claimed the likes of Havertz, Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Calafiori. Arteta's side did enjoy a run to the Champions League semi-finals, but were ultimately outclassed by Paris Saint-Germain, and ended up extending their trophy drought to five years.
Bad luck undoubtedly played a part in that, but Arteta's poor planning in the transfer market was the main reason for Arsenal's failure, and there will be no hiding place for the 43-year-old coach if the same thing happens again next season. Arsenal are no longer making forward progress, and a change in the dugout will be inevitable if Arteta doesn't learn from his mistakes.
The early signs this summer, though, suggest that he has. After closing deals for Real Sociedad playmaker Martin Zubimendi and back-up goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, the Gunners are reportedly now closing in on a blockbuster transfer for Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres, who has all the attributes to be the transformational signing Arteta so desperately needs to deliver tangible success to the Emirates Stadium.
Getty Images'One of the best footballers in the world'
Gyokeres has been linked with a host of top clubs across Europe, including PSG, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. However, the Sweden international is "prioritising" a switch to Arsenal, and has already agreed to personal terms on a five-year contract with the north London side.
Arsenal are now working to finalise a fee with Sporting, who are said to be demanding at least £70 million ($95m) for their prized asset. It's been an ugly saga up to this point, with Sporting accusing Gyokeres' agent of "blackmail" and the player himself reportedly going on strike to force an exit, but it appears that the Portuguese champions will no longer stand in his way.
"I believe he could leave, unless he has the worst agent in the world, which I find hard to believe, because he is one of the best footballers in the world," Sporting president Frederico Varandas admitted to last week. All the signs point to Gyokeres getting his wish soon, but just how accurate is the final part of that statement from Varandas?
Looking purely at the numbers, you'd have to say very. Gyokeres scored 54 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions last term as Sporting won a league and cup double, and he has 97 strikes to his name in total since moving to the Jose Alvalade Stadium from Coventry City in 2023. That's a staggering output, made all the more impressive by the fact Gyokeres has looked just as good on the European stage as he has domestically.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesNot another Haaland
Indeed, Gyokeres notched six goals in eight Champions League games for Sporting as they qualified for the knockout play-off rounds in the newly expanded format. Three of those came in a stunning 4-1 home win over Manchester City, which saw Gyokeres completely outshine a certain Erling Haaland in the battle of the Scandinavian frontmen.
It was a remarkable performance as Gyokeres lived up to the huge pre-match billing he was given by former Real Madrid and Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart. "It sounds a bit crazy, but I think he’s a bit of a better version of Haaland," Van der Vaart told . "Haaland is, of course, incredible, but Gyokeres has a bit more."
Van der Vaart was backed up by Dutch icon Marco van Basten, who added: "He’s a real footballer, I think. A real footballing striker. Strong, scores easily, and is calm in front of goal. He is also able to pass the 'keeper, I think he’s a really good striker. I can enjoy him."
Sporting might have gone further in the Champions League had a thigh injury not limited Gyokeres to a substitute appearance in the first leg of their tie with Borussia Dortmund, which they lost 3-0 in Lisbon, before he was rested completely for the 0-0 draw in the second leg at Signal Iduna Park. That being said, Van der Vaart was guilty of exaggerating.
There is no better striker in the modern game than Haaland, and his record at the very highest level proves that. Any Arsenal supporter expecting Gyokeres to match or better the Norwegian's prolific strike-rate over the past three seasons will almost certainly be disappointed, but Van der Vaart right when suggesting he has more strings to his bow.
Getty ImagesFearsome all-rounder
Arsenal are not just signing a pure goal-scorer; Gyokeres is a dynamic centre-forward who will help to create chances as well as finish them. The former Coventry star is also the ideal fit for Arteta's pressing game as a relentless runner who loves to get stuck in and uses his impressive athleticism to unsettle defenders.
Gyokeres will have no issue adjusting to the physical demands of the Premier League, and his direct style of play can add a new dimension to Arsenal's attack. Odegaard and Saka will benefit the most from Gyokeres' arrival because of his intelligent movement in the final third, which will significantly increase their respective assist potential.
It's very rare to see Gyokeres dropping deep and trying to link play; he tends to either sit on the shoulder of the last defender and look to steal in behind, or attempt to draw his marker out wide and drive into space himself after receiving the ball. His timing his excellent, and he's very difficult to stop when he cuts inside on his lethal right foot.
The opposition cannot rest for even a moment when the explosive Swede is prowling. Gyokeres made 85 sprints beyond the defensive line last season, which was by far the most of any other frontman in the Liga Portugal, and 24 more than Nicolas Jackson's Premier League-leading total with Chelsea – as per .
GettyTransition monster
The only real question mark next to Gyokeres is whether he can handle the step up in quality when swapping the Liga Portugal for the Premier League. His exploits in Europe bode well, but only a very small percentage of centre-forwards deliver consistently in the English top-flight.
It remains to be seen if Gyokeres can be as effective with less space to operate in, and he will have to dramatically improve in the air to make the most of Arsenal's increased focus on set-pieces, having failed to score a single headed league goal for Sporting in 2024-25. But there is no doubt that Gyokeres is ready for the challenge.
Described as a "game-changer" by current Sporting boss Rui Borges, Gyokeres can give Arsenal the clinical edge they've lacked for so long. Too often last season, Arsenal wasted chances to hurt teams on the transition by overplaying, which is why they drew 14 Premier League games – more than any other team in the top 11.
Gyokeres' presence will allow them to break far quicker because he will always provide an out ball and bust a gut to stretch defences. In the box, meanwhile, the Sporting star possesses razor-sharp instincts. He only needs a small sight of goal to make a decisive impact, having mastered the art of shifting the ball away from defenders and finding the corners of the net, boasting immaculate technique with both feet.