Arsenal icon Thierry Henry has delivered a glowing verdict on Viktor Gyökeres ahead of the Swede’s first Premier League season, insisting the £87m striker is the perfect fit for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford, Henry pointed to Gyökeres’ instinctive header against Athletic Bilbao as proof Arsenal now have a true penalty-box predator.
“You have a guy that’s a killer in the box, numbers don’t lie and you have a team that creates a lot of chances, so it should be the perfect match.”
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Gyökeres met Martin Zubimendi’s cross with a cushioned header into the far corner in the 3-0 win over the La Liga side, a finish Henry believes sums up what Arsenal have been missing.
“You saw his goal against Athletic Bilbao. That instinct and understanding to anticipate the cross, a great header with soft touch to guide it to the other side of the goal he is a proper No. 9. That’s the goal of a 9.”
Viktor Gyökeres is built for service, not for dropping deep
Henry also made it clear Gyökeres is a very different profile to the false-nines Arsenal have relied upon in recent years.
“He is not a Firmino type of 9 that’s going to drop into midfield. He wants to be in the box, in between the posts, and he said it himself, please put the ball in the box and serve me.”
With Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Ødegaard supplying him, Gyökeres will get exactly that. Old Trafford could be the stage where Arsenal’s new number 14 announces himself in the Premier League with the blessing of the man who made that shirt iconic.
