Despite scoring 97 goals for Sporting Lisbon over the past two seasons, Viktor Gyokeres admits he cannot wait to experience the feeling of hitting the back of the net in Arsenal colours.
The Swedish striker has arrived from the Portuguese giants having fired them to two league titles and a domestic cup, proving himself to be one of European football’s most prolific scorers, a fact backed up by his record at international level as well as a haul of six Champions League goals last term.
Despite playing for Brighton & Hove Albion, Swansea City and Coventry City during his career, the 27-year-old has yet to feature in the Premier League. But now he has his chance to step up after arriving in north London, he is ready to make his mark, especially with the calibre of teammates he now has eager to provide him with ammunition.
“I always want to score,” he said. “To be a part of this club and to score in this kit and with this badge in front of all the supporters, I can’t wait. It will be an amazing feeling.
“I started here [in England], it feels like a long time ago. I think I’ve improved a lot since then. Now I want to prove myself for real and perform together with the team.
“It’s a big honour to play for your country, and then to score goals for them is amazing. When I played at Sporting, I scored a few goals in the Champions League so I feel that I can be on that level as well. Now to come here to a club on Arsenal’s level, I think it’s going to help me perform even better with all the amazing players in this team. I’m really excited to get going.”
Viktor’s goalscoring exploits meant he was one of the continent’s most in-demand attackers, but after speaking with Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta this summer, he felt that a move to Emirates Stadium was the right one to help his career continue on its upward curve.
That was backed up by the support he received from Gooners across the globe reaching out to him on social media to try and convince him that his future lay in N5, something he admits he is keen to pay back in goals.
“I just felt that it was the right club for me,” he revealed. “What I heard from Mikel and Andrea when I was speaking with them, and just what I’ve seen in the past years, how they’ve been playing football. When I was playing against Arsenal last season, I could really feel it was a very strong team and very difficult to play against.
“That made me choose Arsenal, and of course all the history the club has and the massive fanbase. It’s been amazing to see all the support that they have already given me before I even arrived. That’s what it’s all about. It’s going to be very nice to see them in the stadiums as well.”
Last season saw Viktor get a taste of what life might be like in red and white when we travelled to Lisbon to face his Sporting side in the Champions League, and ran out 5-1 victors.
Having battled hard with Gabriel, William Saliba and the rest of our defenders that night, Viktor is relishing the prospect of training with him every week as he intends to take his game to the next level at his new home.
Reflecting on that game in November, he assessed: “You were very solid defensively, it was hard to create chances. You were very good on set-pieces as well, and very effective in front of goal, you scored five goals. I think that the team was very good, both going forward and defensively as well. It was a tough game.
“It’s going to be fun. I think there’s going to be some good training sessions hopefully, and it’s a great way to improve.”
Get your 25/26 home and away shirts with free Gyökeres 14 printing – offer ends Thursday July 31.
Copyright 2025 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
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