Can Viktor Gyokeres Make Arsenal Champions?
As Arsenal fans track every move in this summer’s transfer window, one name has risen above the rest: Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish striker has lit up the Portuguese league and the world with an outrageous goal record and is now heavily linked with an inevitable move to North London. Can Gyokeres be the man to make Arsenal champions finally?
The Case For Champions
Gypkeres brings serious firepower. In just two seasons at Sporting CP, he scored 97 goals in 102 matches. That’s not a typo. He is averaging nearly a goal every game, and this isn’t just flat-track bullying. He’s found the net in big matches, including Champions League nights, domestic cup finals, and league title-deciding games. At 27, he’s at his physical peak, and everything about his game, pace, strength, and directness suggests he is ready for the next challenge.
What makes Gyokeres even more appealing is his mentality. He’s a relentless presser, a workhorse without the ball, and a nightmare for defenders. These qualities fit like a glove in Mikel Arteta’s system, which demands high-intensity pressing and clever movement, no room for someone who doesn’t run off the ball. Gyokeres thrives in chaos, bulldozing past defenders and dragging center-backs out of shape. Combine that with his elite-level finishing, and you begin to see why Arsenal are so keen to bring him in.
The striker has also proved he can adapt to big stages. He’s delivered in Portugal’s top flight and on European nights, earning a reputation as a big-game player. This mentality could prove crucial in title races where fine margins often make the difference, something Arsenal have lacked and what has cost them at least two league titles.
The Doubts Arsenal Must Overcome
Of course, no transfer is without risk, and Gyokeres isn’t a guaranteed success. One valid concern is the quality of the opposition he’s been scoring against. While his numbers are outrageous, many of those goals came against teams in the lower half of the Portuguese league. Critics argue his impact in games against top-tier European defenses has been more subdued.
Another issue is his aerial game, or the lack of it. Despite standing at 1.89 meters, Gyokeres isn’t known for his heading ability. He doesn’t offer much threat from set-pieces or crosses, which could limit Arsenal’s tactical variety, especially against teams who sit deep. While he’s lethal with the ball at his feet, Arsenal might need to rethink their delivery from wide areas if he becomes their focal point. However, Arteta and his staff have been known for improving players in every aspect, and there’s no doubt the 27-year-old would improve his lack of threat in the air in no time!
Then there’s the leap to the Premier League. It’s a different story: faster, more physical, less forgiving. While Gyokeres has shown plenty of promise, the question remains: Can he replicate this form in arguably the toughest league in the world? His record says yes. The Premier League’s brutal tempo might say otherwise.
Arsenal’s Strategic Context
There’s a very real sense of urgency at Arsenal this time around. After back-to-back seasons of getting so close to the title, Arteta knows that marginal gains are no longer enough. They need to leap. That leap starts at center-forward. Gabriel Jesus, for all his clever movement and pressing, hasn’t provided the goal tally or consistency Arsenal need. Kai Havertz, the German, has scored important goals for the Gunners since he arrived from Chelsea, but hasn’t quite proved to be the title-winning forward a team needs. Last season, no Arsenal striker hit double digits in the league, a statistic that’s simply unacceptable for a team with title ambitions.
Even Thierry Henry, speaking recently on Sky Sports’ “Stick to Football,” couldn’t hide his frustration. “Everyone has been screaming for a nine,” he said. He’s right. If you compare Arsenal’s forward output with that of title-winning Liverpool, the Gunners were 17 goals short. That’s not a small gap. Closing it could be the key to finally finishing first.
What’s Actually Happening?
As of early July, Arsenal are reportedly in advanced negotiations with Sporting CP. Personal terms with the striker are believed to have been agreed, and the focus is now on the fee. Sporting want a guaranteed €70 million package, and Arsenal are believed to be close to matching that valuation. There’s a belief that the deal could be wrapped up before Arsenal leave for their pre-season tour of Asia on July 19.
Interestingly, Sporting have already begun lining up replacements, another signal that they’re preparing for life without their star man. With both clubs keen to finalize the transfer, it seems only a matter of time before Gyokeres is unveiled in red and white. It looks like the deal for Sesko proved to be too much, even for the high-spending Gunners.
What Gyokeres Brings to Arsenal
Stylistically, Gyokeres could be a game-changer. He’s not just a finisher; he’s a facilitator. He presses from the front, links play with midfielders, and creates chances through sheer force of will. While his heading might not be elite, his ground game is sharp. His movement could free up space for Bukayo Saka or Gabriel Martinelli, while his aggression can stretch previously comfortable defenses.
He also brings something Arsenal have lacked for years: a reliable source of goals in tight, high-pressure games. His track record in Portugal shows he is a player who doesn’t shy away from the spotlight. Whether it’s a league title decider or a European knockout tie, Gyokeres has stepped up. That kind of confidence can be infectious.
What Arsenal Must Do
Signing Gyokeres alone won’t win the title. Arsenal will need to support him. That means creating a consistent supply from midfield, primarily through the creativity of Martin Ødegaard and the potential arrival of Martín Zubimendi. It also means continuing to share the goal burden across the squad. Saka, Martinelli, and even Havertz need to maintain high output.
Tactically, Arteta might need to tweak their wide play to compensate for Gyokeres’ aerial limitations. Crosses might need to be cutbacks instead of floated balls. If those adjustments are made, and the team backs him, the striker could hit 15–18 league goals, exactly the margin Arsenal missed last season.
