Finishing as runners-up for the last three seasons, Arsenal have earned the unwanted tag of being the nearly men of the Premier League of late.
Perhaps lacking a top-class centre forward in recent years, the Gunners are hoping the arrival of Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres can help the north London outfit go one place better in the 2025/26 Premier League season.
Gunners Finally Move for a Big Name
For a number of years now, there have been cries from Arsenal supporters for the club to go out and buy a world-class centre forward. The Gunners, who are 9/4 in the football betting odds for this season, finished 10 points behind champions Liverpool last term. Arsenal scored 17 goals fewer than the Merseyside outfit, who are 13/8 favourites in the Premier League betting to lift the trophy again this season. That disparity in goals is something the Gunners have looked to address in the summer transfer window, and the club’s hierarchy are hoping Gyökeres is the answer.
Arsenal had hoped Gabriel Jesus’ arrival from Manchester City in 2022 would see the club finally find a long-term solution to their problems in the No.9 position. Undoubtedly a talented player, a lack of form, spurred on by injuries, has plagued Jesus for much of his time in north London. Having witnessed what Gyökeres has been able to achieve during his time at Sporting CP, it’s little wonder Arsenal have turned to the Sweden international for answers.
Gyökeres Knows the Size of the Challenge Ahead
Having already had spells with Brighton & Hove Albion and Coventry City, Gyökeres will be fully aware of the pace and physical nature of football in England. However, time away in the Portuguese top flight has turned Gyökeres into a finishing machine, with outstanding numbers since making the move to Lisbon in 2023. Scoring 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting, it’s understandable why Arsenal splashed a reported £64m to sign the 27-year-old striker.
Coming into potentially his best years, Gyökeres might well feel he has a point to prove in the Premier League. Taking on the fabled No.14 shirt made famous by Thierry Henry, it seems Gyökeres is not short on confidence that he can go some way to emulating the Arsenal icon. Mikel Arteta is experienced enough to know it might take time for Gyökeres to settle into his new surroundings at the Emirates. The Scandinavian joins an incredibly strong Arsenal side that had by far the best defensive record in the Premier League last season, conceding just 34 goals in 38 games. If Gyökeres can add more threat at the opposite end of their field, then there's plenty for Arsenal fans to be excited about this season.
Over 20 years have passed since the “Invincibles” lifted the trophy in 2004. With the squad looking more complete than at any time in the Arteta era, and with a proven goal machine now leading the line, Gyökeres might just be the man to turn Arsenal from contenders into champions.
