Arsenal’s need for a prolific striker has been a hot topic among fans and pundits in recent times. Enter Viktor Gyökeres, the 27-year-old Swedish forward who has exploded onto the scene with a stunning goal record for Sporting CP in Portugal. Arsenal are reportedly in advanced talks to sign Gyökeres, and it’s not hard to see why: he scored a remarkable 39 goals in 33 league games last season (54 goals in 52 games in all competitions).
For context, no Arsenal player scored more than 10 league goals in the 2024/25 season, showing how the Gunners’ lack a true high-volume scorer up front.
Viktor Gyökeres comes with a prolific goal scoring record
Gyökeres has earned a reputation as a goal machine after his jaw-dropping 2024/25 season in Portugal. He found the net 39 times in the Primeira Liga, making him the top scorer in any domestic league in Europe that year. This wasn’t a fluke one-off season either, it capped a steady rise in his scoring output.
In 2022/23 with Coventry City in England’s Championship, Gyökeres tallied 21 goals (plus 12 assists) as he led his team to the play-off final. Since moving to Sporting CP, his goal rate went into overdrive; he’s scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for the Lisbon club, nearly a goal per game. Such consistency over multiple seasons suggests a player with a knack for finding the net.
Notably, Gyökeres isn’t padding his stats with just penalty kicks or tap-ins. While he did take penalties (12 of his league goals in 2024/25 were from the spot), he still led all players in Portugal with 51 non-penalty goals over the last two seasons. In other words, even excluding spot-kicks, he has been scoring for fun. His goals come in various forms blasting shots from central areas, finishing fast breaks, and even the occasional long-range effort. This eclectic scoring repertoire indicates he can score the kinds of goals Arsenal create, whether it’s poaching in the six-yard box or racing onto through balls.
From a data perspective, Gyökeres’ scoring efficiency is impressive. He massively outperformed his expected goals: in 2024/25 he scored 39 league goals from about 30.9 xG worth of chances. (In the shot map above, each red dot is a goal and purple circles are shots; the cluster of goals in front of goal illustrates how Gyökeres consistently got on the end of high-quality chances. He registered 139 shots at an average of 0.22 xG per shot, totaling ~30.9 xG, yet he scored well above that, a sign of clinical finishing.) Gyökeres has a track record of beating his xG year after year, suggesting his finishing skill is no statistical accident. He strikes the ball with power and accuracy, often finding corners or side-netting, which helps him convert chances at a higher rate than the average striker.
For Arsenal, a team that creates many opportunities, having a forward who can “over-achieve” his xG i.e. turn good chances into goals at a high rate: is incredibly valuable. Of course, skeptics will point out that the Portuguese league isn’t the Premier League. It’s true that the overall competition level in Portugal is lower (Opta’s Power Rankings rate the Primeira Liga only the 8th strongest in the world, even below the English Championship).
Some strikers who lit up Portugal, for example, Darwin Núñez, who scored 26 in Liga NOS, found it harder to hit the same numbers in England. This means Gyökeres’ 39-goal haul won’t automatically translate to 39 in the EPL.
However, there are reasons to believe Gyökeres can still be a major scorer in England. For one, he already proved himself in the Championship (widely considered a very physical, competitive league) with back-to-back 17 and 21-goal seasons for Coventry. He’s accustomed to the intensity of English football and won’t be overwhelmed by Premier League defenses physically.
Furthermore, the attributes behind his goalscoring: intelligent movement, speed, strength, and composure are traits that should carry over regardless of league. In short, while expecting 30+ goals in the Premier League might be unrealistic, Gyökeres has shown all the signs of a striker who can significantly boost Arsenal’s goal tally.
Gyökeres is more than just goals
While Gyökeres’ goals grab headlines, he is far from a one-dimensional poacher. In fact, Arsenal’s interest in him is also because of his all-around contribution, he “works hard both creatively as well as off the ball”.
Last season in Portugal, along with his 39 goals, Gyökeres also provided 7 assists in the league (and 10+ assists in all competitions), reflecting a creative streak in his game. During his final season at Coventry, he similarly racked up 12 assists in addition to his 21 goals, demonstrating that he can set up teammates when defenders swarm him.
Statistically, Gyökeres excels in several forward metrics beyond scoring. He had excellent shooting volume (over 4 shots per game) and a ton of touches in the opposition box, indicating how involved he is in the attacking third. He’s also noted for good carrying and dribbling numbers for a striker, and even “solid creative numbers” in chance creation.
Essentially, Gyökeres can generate offense both by finishing moves and by initiating them. He often drops to receive the ball, drives forward with dribbles, and can thread passes to teammates making runs. His tall frame (6’1½” / ~187 cm) and strength make him effective at holding off defenders, yet he also has the agility to dribble past challenges. This combination of physicality and technique gives Arsenal a more versatile focal point, he can be the tip of the spear or play others in when he’s tightly marked.
Importantly, Gyökeres’ work rate is a big plus. He is known to press defenders and hustle off the ball, much like the energetic style Mikel Arteta demands from his front line.
At Sporting, he frequently chased down opponents and led the press from the front, which mirrors the defensive contribution that Gabriel Jesus provides at Arsenal.
Fans will appreciate that Gyökeres doesn’t simply loiter upfield waiting for service; he actively participates in defending from the front and in link-up play. His high intensity and willingness to run make him a good fit for the Premier League’s pace and for Arsenal’s system, which asks a lot of its striker in terms of movement and pressing. That said, no player is without weaknesses.
One noteworthy area where Gyökeres is surprisingly sub-par is aerial ability. Despite his size, he is not a dominant header of the ball, he won relatively few aerial duels and scored very few headers throughout his career (only 3 set-piece headed goals since 2020).
For Sporting, he actually did most of his damage with his feet and was not a big target on set pieces. This is worth mentioning because Arsenal may not want to rely on him as a traditional target man for crosses. However, Arsenal’s attacking style is not built on swinging in dozens of high crosses anyway, they favor low cut-backs or combination play around the box, so Gyökeres’ aerial weakness shouldn’t be a major issue. It’s a minor caveat in an otherwise well-rounded attacking skill set.
How will Gyökeres fit in at Arsenal under Arteta
Gyökeres’ playing style can be described as a blend of power, directness, and clever movement. He is at his best driving straight at defenses and operating in and around the penalty area. Most of his shots come from inside the box, especially within the width of the goalposts, exactly the locations you want a striker to shoot from. He has a knack for getting into prime scoring positions.
However, he’s not static; Gyökeres will roam as needed to find space or drag defenders around. One notable tendency is his movement into the half-spaces (channels), particularly on the left side of the pitch. This was observed both at Coventry and Sporting: he often drifts slightly to the left flank or left channel during build-up, then cuts inside towards goal onto his stronger right foot. This means he can combine with a left-sided player or receive passes out wide, then drive diagonally into the box. It’s a bit reminiscent of Thierry Henry’s old habit of attacking from the left channel, though to be clear, Gyökeres is more a pure striker than a wide forward.
This movement pattern could actually mesh well with Arsenal’s setup: with Gabriel Martinelli occupying the left wing, Gyökeres can interchange or make opposite movements (when Martinelli stays wide, Gyökeres stays central; when Martinelli cuts inside, Gyökeres can pull a defender wide). That flexibility can confuse defenses and open gaps.
As the heatmap suggests, Gyökeres is primarily a central striker but will veer into the left half-space to receive the ball or make runs. This habit allows him to get facing forward on his right foot and either run at defenders or slip in behind the backline from an angle. He has decent acceleration and a good top-end pace, so when he times his runs well, he can burst past a high defensive line.
Arsenal often face compact defenses at the Emirates; having a striker who is willing to drift wide then accelerate into gaps could help unsettle those deep blocks.
Gyökeres’ ability to carry the ball in those situations (using his dribbling or using his strength to hold off challenges) gives Arsenal a more direct attacking outlet than they sometimes had last season.
Tactically, at Sporting CP Gyökeres was the tip of a 3-4-3, tasked with playing as the high reference point while the wide forwards played off him. He showed he could handle being the focal point: he occupied center-backs, held up play to bring teammates in, and commanded so much attention that it created space for others.
When multiple defenders collapsed on Gyökeres, it often freed a winger or midfielder to make an unchecked run, a dynamic that Arsenal can exploit with players like Martin Ødegaard or Bukayo Saka arriving into space.
In one example from Sporting, Gyökeres occupying the center backs allowed Pedro Gonçalves (“Pote”) to ghost in and score. Arsenal’s midfield runners could similarly benefit from the gravity Gyökeres exerts on defenders. He is adept at one-touch layoffs and linking in the box, so playing quick give-and-go with Ødegaard or Trossard around the area is very much in his skill set.
Another aspect of Gyökeres’s game is his versatility in attacking approach. If defenders stand off, he’s happy to face them up and dribble; if they dive in, he can pick a pass to the open man.
If a defense plays a high line, Gyökeres will sprint in behind; if they sit deep, he’ll use quick combinations or muscle through tight spaces. This multi-faceted threat makes him a tricky matchup, as one analysis put it, “he has the strength to battle centerbacks and the pace to test them if they dare play a high line”.
Arsenal’s attack under Arteta is about fluid interchange and adaptability, and Gyökeres fits that philosophy. He isn’t a static target; he can adjust to what the game needs, be it holding up the ball under pressure or spearheading a fast break.
Gyökeres compared with a Arsenal’s current strikers
To truly gauge Gyökeres’ impact, it’s useful to compare him with Arsenal’s existing striker options, notably Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz (who was often deployed as a forward last season).
Each brings a different skill set, and Gyökeres would add a new dimension by virtue of his playing style and strengths.
Gabriel Jesus vs Gyökeres
Jesus is a highly technical, mobile forward who excels at link-up play, dribbling in tight spaces, and pressing aggressively. He often drops deep or drifts wide to combine with teammates, sometimes leaving the central striker zone to create space for others.
However, one critique of Jesus is that despite his excellent all-round game, he isn’t an especially prolific goal-scorer: he scored 11 league goals for Arsenal in 2022/23 and has never hit the 20-goal mark in the Premier League. Gyökeres, by contrast, is more of a traditional scoring focal point. He is more likely to stay central and make run after run in behind the defense or position himself to get on the end of crosses and cut-backs. At ~187 cm, Gyökeres is taller and more physically imposing than Jesus, meaning he can potentially hold off defenders better when posting up in the box.
While Jesus brings more flair in tight dribbles, Gyökeres brings more straight-line power, for instance, shrugging off a defender and bursting through on goal is something we’ve seen Gyökeres do regularly in the Championship and Liga NOS. Jesus’ instinct is often to create (he likes to assist and can play as a winger or second striker), whereas Gyökeres’ instinct is to finish. This doesn’t mean Gyökeres can’t link play, he certainly can but he will likely be more goal-focused.
In Arsenal’s attack, Jesus often vacates the central lane (to confuse markers), but sometimes that left Arsenal without a presence in the 6-yard box to finish moves. Gyökeres would naturally fill that space. Imagine Arsenal’s wingers beating their full-backs and whipping a low ball across the face of goal, Gyökeres is the type of striker who will be reliably making that run to the near post or penalty spot to meet those passes.
In short, Gyökeres offers a more direct, goal-getting style compared to Jesus’ hybrid playmaking-striker role. A potential outcome is that Arsenal could even pair them situationally (with Jesus playing a roaming second striker off Gyökeres), but even if rotated, Gyökeres provides a profile that Arsenal currently lack in pure form.
Kai Havertz vs Gyökeres
Havertz, while not a natural striker by trade, was often used as a center-forward both at Chelsea and at times for Arsenal. His assets as a striker are his height (6’2”), intelligent movement, and ability to drop into midfield to help possession play. Havertz can play with his back to goal decently and link with midfielders, essentially acting as a false nine at times. However, Havertz’s style is fundamentally different from Gyökeres’. He is not a volume shooter or an aggressive penetrator of defensive lines.
At Chelsea, Havertz averaged far fewer shots per game than Gyökeres did at Sporting, and his goal tally never exceeded single digits in the league.
Gyökeres, on the other hand, is all about vertical play, pushing up against the backline, looking to turn and run at defenders, and pulling the trigger often.
Tactically, if Havertz is deployed as a lone striker, he tends to drop off and vacate the front, whereas Gyökeres will push the last defender and remain a constant outlet in behind. In essence, Havertz offers a more possession-oriented, subtle approach, whereas Gyökeres brings an urgent, direct goal threat.
One analyst cleverly described it as Havertz and Gyökeres having “mirrored radars,” Havertz excels in areas like short passing and link-up (east-west on a chart), whereas Gyökeres spikes in north-south metrics like dribbles into the box and shots. In terms of tactical difference, consider Arsenal’s options when breaking down a deep defense: Havertz might drop into midfield to overload and create a passing combination, while Gyökeres would be more likely to stay high, pin the center-backs, and make a run for a cut-back or a chipped ball over the top.
If Arsenal want to press high, Havertz is a willing runner too, but Gyökeres has the experience of leading the line in a pressing system and might be more natural at harrying defenders as the first presser (given he’s played as an out-and-out striker longer). Aerially, interestingly, neither player is especially dominant despite their height. Havertz has scored a few notable headers in his career but he’s not a traditional target man either. So Arsenal wouldn’t be signing Gyökeres for aerial bombardment they’d be signing him to turbo-charge the attack through the middle.
It’s also worth noting that if Gyökeres joins, it could liberate Havertz to play more in his natural attacking midfield role. Arsenal invested in Havertz partly for his versatility, but many believe he’s best when not tasked with being the primary goalscorer. With Gyökeres as a striker, Havertz could play behind him or rotate in, giving Arsenal a healthy variety of tactical setups.
In matches where a more subtle approach is needed, Havertz or Jesus could play; when a direct, powerful runner is needed to batter a weaker defense or lead the line, Gyökeres steps in. This kind of flexibility and depth is what a club like Arsenal, competing on multiple fronts, will relish.
Gooners, be excited…
From a fan’s perspective, there’s a lot to be excited about with a potential Gyökeres signing.
Arsenal would be getting a striker just entering his prime who has hunger for goals and a point to prove at the highest level. His highlight reels show a player who can score solo goals blasting from outside the box or slaloming through defenders as well as a poacher’s goals, sliding in to finish crosses.
That mix of the spectacular and the industrious is something Arsenal fans adore (think of Alexis Sánchez’s long-rangers combined with Olivier Giroud’s six-yard box finishes, Gyökeres can provide a bit of both).
He plays with a visible passion and tenacity that can energize the team and the crowd. Every time Gyökeres is on the pitch, you get the sense he’s laser-focused on scoring an almost single-minded determination to make a difference in the game. This mentality could rub off on an Arsenal side that at times has been guilty of trying to “walk the ball into the net.”
Gyökeres is more inclined to take responsibility and shoot when the opportunity arises, which is a welcome trait when finesse isn’t breaking a stubborn defense. Moreover, his journey from struggling to get a chance at Brighton, to grinding in the lower leagues on loan, to conquering the Championship with Coventry, then blossoming into a record-breaker in Portugal shows a player with resilience and drive.
He has steadily improved each step of his career. This isn’t a prodigy who had it easy; it’s a late-bloomer who had to fight for his spot. Arsenal supporters tend to embrace players who show that grit and determination to succeed (the way cult heroes like Ian Wright or Martin Keown did after working up from lower leagues).
Gyökeres embodies that fighting spirit. If he dons the Arsenal jersey, you can expect him to give his all to justify it.
Viktor Gyökeres will surely bring goals
In summary, Viktor Gyökeres offers a tantalizing package of goal-scoring prowess, physical presence, and work ethic that could be exactly what Arsenal need to elevate their attack.
Statistically, he has been off the charts: a 30+ goal striker with a habit of outperforming expected goals and terrorizing defenses inside the box. Tactically, he provides a new dimension with his direct runs, powerful dribbling, and ability to occupy defenders, which in turn could unlock space for Arsenal’s other attacking talent.
Crucially, he addresses Arsenal’s long-standing issue of not converting enough of their chances into goals; with Gyökeres on the end of Ødegaard’s passes and Saka’s crosses, the Gunners could become far more clinical.
There will, of course, be an adjustment period. The Premier League is unforgiving, and not every high scorer from abroad hits the ground running. Gyökeres will have to adapt to tighter marking and fewer clear-cut chances than he enjoyed in Portugal. But given his Championship experience and the qualities he possesses, there’s reason to be optimistic he can make the leap. Even if he doesn’t score 39 goals in England, a season of, say, 20-25 goals (which seems very attainable) could be transformative for Arsenal’s title ambitions, considering their top league scorers recently were in the mid-teens.
By combining an analyst’s rigor (examining his xG, shot maps, and tactical fit) with a fan’s enthusiasm (imagining the roar of the Emirates as Gyökeres smashes in a debut goal), we can envisage Gyökeres quickly becoming a fan favorite. He has the statistical pedigree of a elite striker and the on-pitch persona of a hard-working, never-say-die team player, a rare and precious mix.
If Arsenal finalize the transfer, all signs point toward Gyökeres significantly boosting Arsenal’s goal output and adding a new attacking dimension. In other words, the Gunners may finally get the goal-getter they’ve been craving, and as Gyökeres himself would say when he sniffs out a chance, “there it is!”
