Swedish striker’s instant passion convinced Gunners boss he was worth £64m gamble as new era begins
Mikel Arteta needed just one conversation to realize Viktor Gyökeres was destined to wear Arsenal red. The Gunners’ £64m signing from Sporting CP has already made an instant impact, scoring in pre-season, but as Arteta reveals, it was the striker’s burning ambition—not just his 97 goals in 102 games—that sealed the deal.
Speaking to Men In Blazers, the Arsenal manager shared how Gyökeres’ reaction to his vision for the club became the “most important data” in their pursuit. “When I told him my idea and asked him to imagine wearing our shirt, his eyes lit up,” Arteta recalled. “He said, ‘That’s my dream.’ That’s the mentality we needed—a player who embraces pressure, not just numbers.”
The 26-year-old’s prolific record made him one of Europe’s most feared strikers, but Arsenal faced stiff competition for his signature, with Benjamin Šeško (now at Manchester United) also heavily linked. Yet Arteta was sold on Gyökeres’ “dominance, security, and almost arrogance”—traits he believes will thrive in the Premier League.
Gyökeres could make his competitive debut in Sunday’s blockbuster clash against Manchester United, where he may reunite with former Sporting boss Rúben Amorim. After three straight second-place finishes, Arsenal fans will hope their new No. 9 is the missing piece to finally dethrone City—and if Arteta’s instincts are right, that first phone call might just be remembered as the moment their title dreams turned real.
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