Arsenal`s long-awaited center forward, Viktor Gyokeres, joined the club last week. Fans have high hopes for the Swedish international, and all signs suggest he is determined to handle the immense pressure and live up to the anticipation surrounding his arrival.
The excitement is palpable. Gyokeres` number 14 shirt, a tribute to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, has become the club`s fastest-selling jersey, boosted by free printing offers. His appearance in the shirt even drew a massive roar from fans at Singapore`s National Stadium during a pre-season match against Newcastle United.
Should Gyokeres debut on Thursday in the pre-season friendly against Tottenham at Hong Kong`s Kai Tak Sports Park, the buzz is expected to intensify dramatically. Manager Mikel Arteta is attempting to manage expectations, noting that the new signing has had limited training. Arteta stated, “We`re going to assess tonight how he is. If the medical staff are pleased with his conditions it is possible,” regarding his potential first match.
Arsenal fans are hopeful that Gyokeres can be the catalyst for their first Premier League title in 22 years, and potentially even their inaugural European Cup. His impressive track record in the Primeira Liga supports this optimism; over 102 games for Sporting, he amassed 97 goals, 28 assists, and averaged 3.7 shots per 90 minutes, securing two titles. His 39 goals last season were the most by any player in the league since Mario Jardel in 2001-02.
However, the mention of players like Jardel can also evoke caution among supporters. Despite his prolific scoring record in Portugal and Europe, Jardel`s move to England saw him fail to score a single Premier League goal for Bolton Wanderers. This history, alongside other Portuguese league forwards like Carlos Vinicius, Fabio Silva, and Darwin Nunez who struggled in England, highlights a potential risk. Club ELO ratings even suggest that the weakest teams in Portugal`s top division are comparable to the strongest in England`s League One, raising questions about the Primeira Liga`s competitive level.
Arsenal, however, is confident that Gyokeres will defy the trend of Portuguese league forwards struggling in England. They believe his prior experience in English football with Coventry, his robust physical presence, and his unwavering determination will help him adapt. Arsenal`s negotiators were particularly impressed by Gyokeres` eagerness to join the club, his agent`s willingness to forgo commissions to facilitate the move with Sporting, and the player`s personal desire for “revenge” following his previous stint at Brighton where he didn`t establish himself.
Equally promising is Gyokeres` performance in the Champions League. Despite a limited number of games, the 27-year-old notably scored a hat-trick against Manchester City, contributing half of his six goals in the group stage. While his overall goal tally, both in Europe and Portugal, includes penalties (two in the Champions League last season), it`s evident that Gyokeres significantly troubled several top European defenders, including his new Arsenal teammate.
“It`s scary to play against him,” Arsenal defender William Saliba said of the Swede, who gave him plenty of headaches even in Arsenal`s emphatic win in Lisbon last November. “When you face a striker who scores goals, you have to be focused! But now he`s in our team and he will score for us, so that`s good.”
Had Arsenal not had the formidable defensive duo of Saliba and Gabriel, it would have been exceedingly difficult to keep Gyokeres from scoring that day, given his relentless pursuit of through balls. Arteta`s team, leaving significant space between their last defender and the goal, inadvertently played into Gyokeres` strengths. This allowed him to execute his signature move: bursting into open space on the counter-attack, driving directly at defenders, and unleashing powerful shots, as demonstrated in his goal against Boavista.
This type of goal aligns with comments made by Rio Ferdinand on his podcast, who expressed skepticism about Gyokeres` ability to replicate such opportunities in the Premier League:
“I`ve watched him probably three times really, really closely. And three times I`ve gone: `He ain`t getting that opportunity in the Prem.` Is there enough — after he`s physically matched — to get him a goal?”
It remains uncertain if Gyokeres possesses the unique qualities needed to consistently breach Premier League defenses. However, based on recent trends, chances like the one described will be exceptionally rare for him at Arsenal. Opponents typically adopt a more defensive approach against Arsenal, packing the penalty area and retaining possession to neutralize the counter-attacking threats posed by Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
Gyokeres will need to adapt to becoming a striker who primarily converts chances from sustained periods of possession, though Arsenal doesn`t require this transformation immediately. Despite the excitement surrounding a new center-forward, it`s important to remember that Kai Havertz has performed exceptionally well in that role. Since joining from Chelsea two seasons ago, Havertz has contributed 27 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League and Champions League, second only to Bukayo Saka in goal involvements. Given this, it`s highly likely Havertz will still be Arsenal`s primary striker on the opening day.
Furthermore, despite the considerable buzz, Gyokeres` transfer fee of $74 million upfront, with potential add-ons of $11.5 million, is not considered `superstar` money in the current market. Arsenal entered the summer transfer window prepared to pursue forwards who would complement Kai Havertz, rather than completely replace him, especially if their primary target, Alexander Isak, was unattainable.
Mikel Arteta has acquired an additional attacking option in Gyokeres, whose relentless focus on scoring and shooting provides a distinct alternative to other strikers in the squad. The Swedish forward is expected to enhance Arsenal`s attack by providing a different dimension, rather than fundamentally transforming it. Therefore, judging Gyokeres solely on whether he lives up to the `hype` might be an unfair measure of his success.
