Arsenal transfer news: How Vyktor Gyokeres fits in, what he brings and potential concerns

Arsenal will have one of the world's top goalscorers in Viktor Gyokeres, but how can he translate his performances in Portugal into the Premier League?

Gyokeres is finally about to complete his long-awaited move to Arsenal. After months of speculation and negotiations, the Gunners have secured their new centre-forward.

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the North London club has paid a total of £63.5m plus £8.5m in bonuses, bringing the overall cost close to £72m. The Swedish international has signed a five-year deal.

Gyokeres arrives at the Emirates on the back of two sensational seasons with Sporting CP, where he registered 97 goals and 28 assists in 102 appearances — a staggering average of 1.22 goal involvements per match.

What Gyokeres brings to Arsenal

Gyokeres fits the modern Scandinavian striker profile: tall, powerful, explosive, and lethal when given space to run behind defences.

While Arsenal have relied on Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard in the No. 9 role, all three prefer to play with the ball at their feet. Gyokeres offers something different — a more traditional striker who thrives on direct play, physical duels, and high-speed transitions.

Data from SkillCorner suggests Gyokeres is among the elite when it comes to attacking the space behind defences:

• In the top seven European leagues, he performs better than 89% of strikers for runs behind the last line.


• He ranks in the top 18% for lateral runs, creating width and pulling defenders out of position.


• He made 85 high-speed runs (over 25 km/h) last season — the highest in the Portuguese top flight.

He is not just pace and power — Gyokeres can play with his back to goal, act as a pivot, and combine with midfielders in tight spaces. His profile could open up new attacking patterns for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Concerns over Premier League transition

Still, moving to the Premier League is a big step. Questions remain about whether Gyokeres can impose himself in a more physical and tactically complex environment.

Before shining in Portugal, his only top-flight experience came at Brighton & Hove Albion — where he made just eight appearances. He also starred for Coventry City in the Championship, narrowly missing promotion in 2023.

Now 26, the Swede is far more mature and physically dominant than during his Brighton days. But the challenge he will face in England is less about physique and more about finding space.

Arsenal dominate possession and often face low blocks. The Gunners averaged just 6.7% of ball recoveries leading to shots — third-worst in the Premier League — suggesting their transitions could improve.

This is where Gyokeres may be key. His off-ball movement and verticality could transform how Arsenal break through defences.

How Gyokeres fits in a slow, structured Arsenal side

Arsenal build up slowly and methodically. Gyokeres could bring a new dynamic with his lateral and diagonal runs:

1. Arsenal had the lowest proportion of final third touches on the left wing last season (32.9%). Gyokeres could offer balance.

2. His movement can drag defenders out of shape, disrupting compact blocks and creating space for team-mates.

3. Like Haaland at Manchester City, he could force defensive lines to sit deeper, opening up space for Arsenal’s midfielders to exploit.

Despite his 6’2” frame, Gyokeres did not score a single header last season. Only 12.5% of his shots came from headers. Still, he could be a valuable target for Arsenal’s frequent crosses — they attempted the most open-play crosses in the league last season, but converted just 10.2% of them.

While some scepticism is fair, Gyokeres has tools to succeed — physical strength, relentless movement, and clinical finishing. His profile is closer to Erling Haaland than to the technical forwards Arsenal are used to.

He will not have the same space he enjoyed in Portugal, but he could help Arsenal hurt teams in transition and add a new threat in the box. If he adapts, Gyokeres could be the final piece in Arteta’s title-chasing puzzle.

This article was originally published on Trivela.