Arsenal have this evening confirmed the signing of Sweden international Viktor Gyökeres on a five-year contract, from Sporting Lisbon.
Gyökeres enjoyed an extraordinary two seasons in Portugal, scoring 97 goals in 102 appearances and playing a key role in Sporting’s back-to-back Primeira Liga titles. At international level, he has netted 12 goals in his last 17 games for Sweden, highlighting his striking consistency.
Manager Arteta “excited”
“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Viktor Gyökeres to the club. The consistency he has shown in his performances and availability have been outstanding, and his goal contributions speak for themselves,” said Arteta.
“Viktor has so many qualities. He is a quick and powerful presence up front, with incredible goalscoring numbers at club and international levels. He brings a clinical edge with a high conversion rate of chances into goals, with his intelligent movement in the box making him a constant threat. We’re excited about what Viktor brings to our squad and are looking forward to start working with him. We welcome Viktor and his family to Arsenal.”
Gyökeres “It’s a big honour”
“I always want to score. 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.”
Gyökeres will wear the iconic No. 14 shirt at Arsenal.
His arrival marks Arsenal’s sixth major signing of the window, keeping their summer spending north of £200 million.
What a result Gooners! It’s Official! Share your thoughts in the comments.
Michelle M
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There can and WILL NOT be any excuse this season. Arsenal has NEVER had a manager so well supported with finance in the history of Arsenal football club. The owners have shown their will, Arteta HAS to show his. Or out and let someone in who CAN.
👍
And welcome to all our signings. Thats what i call intent.
Sorry mate, but we aren’t the only club spending big in this window, but we are in a very good position. COYG
That’s not an excuse already is it Didrik?
I think Reggie makes the perfect point and, if we win something this season, perhaps all the negativity will then stop?!
Welcome to our club Viktor and thanks for actually putting The Arsenal first.
@ken1945, I support our club anyway, just like you.
I’m not sure all the negativity will stop because there’s something wrong with parts of our fan base.
I don’t take anything for granted, but I have a big hope, like most of us. COYG
Yes but the “other” clubs are winning things? Whats the point, if you dont? Why spend? Lets not start making lame excuses already, lets be accountable.
It’s not an excuse, it’s the reality of this league and the CL. We are doing whatever we can to take it home, it’s time for us to rise our level of support. COYG
Its time for the manager to actually deliver. If he is able too!!!
I don’t doubt the manager he has turned us into the most consistent team in the league. What have been your contribution to our amazing journey?
What??
Didrik Plehn,
Consistent at what?. 🤷♂️
Agreed. The other big clubs are not exactly rolling over and playing dead this transfer season. imo it will be a big ask just to finish in the UCL places let alone winning the PL. Unusually, I like our chances more in the UCL this season than in the PL. I believe this season will provide MA with his greatest challenge since becoming manager, regardless of whether he is able to get us over the line for a major trophy.
I agree. Arsenal do not exist in a vacuum. This is a tough league, arguably the toughest and potentially most competitive at the top end. The PL has more teams with comparable levels of wealth, top level players and managers than any other league in Europe. Several other top teams have spent huge amounts to improve their squads as well.
Some so-called fans continue to be unnecessarily blinkered and refuse to take into account the fact that there are other teams that will be major threats in every tournament.
Arsenal have strengthened and should be more competitive but the discussions really need to be more sensible than talking about “excuses”.
The recruitment has been pretty sound up till now. It’s likely going to be a tough but hopefully exciting season. The focus really ought to be on supporting the team at this time.
The “focus” should be on supporting the team ALL the time, but not being blinkered enough not to see things as they are.
Nobody has said the recruitment hasn’t been “pretty sound” and neither has anyone said that other clubs haven’t strengthened.
The point being made was that MA has been backed like no previous manager, not only in transfer fees, but in time and personal salary as well.
If someone cannot understand that, with all this backing, success has to follow, then they need to explain why it would be a sensible thing to keep a manager who doesn’t bring home what he’s being paid to do.
Simple really.
It seems that “seeing things as they are” is ignoring everything else that is going on around and other uncontrollable variables. Other top teams around have spent as much if not more than Arsenal.
No-one can say how the season will pan out. How many really thought Arsenal would have the sheer number of injuries that befell the team last season.
Yet you lot have once more started focusing on one factor alone as if this is the sole determinant of the outcome of a season.
The lack of respect for the competition is also quite silly. Arsenal have a good squad and a good manager but are not in a league all by themselves or one where they should obviously dominate every other team. It does not make sense to suggest that it is simple to win in such circumstances.
Why do you see fans asking the coach to win any silverware after the the he has been backed both on and of the field financially as a lack of respect for the competitions Arsenal is competing in.
Why are we even in a he competition if can not push to win it. Why upgrading the team with quality players if the aim is just to make up the number at least we have been bridesmaids in three years as SueP put.
Arsenal want to win but so do several other top teams.
Of course, you have to upgrade to give yourself the best chances of winning. However, other top teams are also improving their squads.
Assuming that you must win in any top level competition demonstrates arrogance and a lack of respect for the other teams you are competing against.
If you are in such a favoured position as the likes of PSG such arrogance may be justified. However, Arsenal have never been in such a position so the pomposity and demands of some Arsenal fans does not make sense.
Nice saying David, it’s about excepting the reality of the task. I’m sure we will win a major trophy but I don’t take it for granted. We have been on an amazing journey and have been 2nd best for three years already, and our consistency is impressive. Now we the supporters should do our part and rise the level of support. COYG
But why are they upgrading David? Surprise Surprise to win big trophies!!!! But according to you, we dont have too🤔
What would have happened if we didn’t upgrade in this competition? From my point of view we are doing it for two reasons. To maintain our level and to try to take the next step, but we can only influence on ourselves!
To maintain our level? Really! I very much doubt that ANYONE spends money with the intention of not improving. Thats rediculous. Tell that to Real, Barca, City, Chelsea, PSG and Bayern, fans and owners, i would doubt they would agree with that idea.
Did you only read the one reason? Perhaps you need new glasses or better overall understanding?
I am reading 1 of 2 reasons you put. And 50% of your reasons, i am disputing. Whats glasses got to do with it?
Ken1945,
I beg to differ but only slightly.
No doubt, that Arsenal have backed Arteta; it’s irrefutable. By the same token, City, Liverpool & Utd have also backed their managers. Ideally success should follow and in 2 out of those 3, real success has. City and Liverpool being the most recent teams to lift the league trophy and the CL, have had seriously good managers at the helm, in Klopp and Guardiola. We had Arteta who in managerial terms was starting from scratch.
But we are talking about a manager who has been in the hot seat for nearly six seasons now SueP.
I won’t go through the plus and minus points of his time, suffice it to say that, in my opinion, we have seen him grow into his role, to the point of missing out on the PL twice and reaching the semi final of the CL.
However, we cannot go on being the bridesmaid and never the bride.
We have a squad that is completely that of Mikel’s choice and they play according to his wishes.
If he doesn’t win something this season, what does he do next?
I was purely drawing a reference to the difference between Liverpool and City with Arsenal. They went for a proven track record. In City’s case the graft to get to the top had been done before Pep
As for being the bridesmaid and not the bride, I fully appreciate that Arteta has to fulfill his promise. This season marks his card. The foundations have been laid and there are no obvious weaknesses now apart from possible injuries but that is an unknown . His team and judging by many comments over the last weeks, his last chance to win or it’s bye bye. I can’t be that rigid at this point because there are factors yet to be determined but I can separate myself from Arteta and let another person have a go.
Ken1945,
The voice of reason once again. Good post. 👍👏
I believe the blinkered approach from fans is more expecting nothing after spending a billion with 1 of the highest paid football managers on the planet
I fully agree with David that the fans need to have more sensible discussions rather than all their excuses we always hear from the regular bunch
Nobody is saying we need to win the EPL every year, but to have more excuses than expectations is really poor. After all the spending it’s 100% right that Artets needs to actually produce now after his first rebuild failed
Here’s the thing.
Once again you are focusing on talking points that have little cogency rather than a meaningful discussion. Arsenal aims are clearly to win the major titles.
However is it too difficult to understand that there are other top teams around or that there are other variables that no manager can control? Is that what you think is blinkered?
“Spending a billion” is completely meaningless without any other information.
Discussing the reasons for not winning titles requires more thought and elaboration than merely referring to “excuses”.
I take your point but the bottom line (in every sense) to this discussion – whether we want to admit it or not – is that no club can continue to spend the money that has, and is, being spent by Arsenal without having more than a single domestic cup to show for it in over five seasons now.
Football is a business first – it just happens to be one that involves kicking a ball about on a pitch. No business, no businessman – certainly not like Stan Kroenke, will indulge that level of expenditure indefinitely without something more tangible to show. Particularly, being an American he wants his clubs to be “winners”. In topflight professional football, that’s silverware, not second places.
Teams who are champions or contenders come and go, but most people only remember the former. I strongly doubt Arteta will be coach at this time next summer unless he has finally moved Arsenal into the champions category. If/when that happens it will be because of hard-headed business decisions, the bottom line of getting “more bang for the buck”.
There are 2 schools of thought as far as I can see – expectation and giving excuses
The sum of money spent so far is irrelevant because the base was so low. Winning FA cups isn’t the league and with it the revenue. Say what you like about Arteta, but the reality was there was little to sell for decent money. No Courtinho or Harry Kane in our ranks. Look at Utd. Still in a pickle for over a decade since Fergie. An overhaul was essential and couldn’t be achieved overnight. A couple of real talents but too many journeymen to take us to the next level
I’m not disputing being the bridesmaid 3 years in a row hasn’t been a disappointment. Arteta is approaching crunch time to bring his and our dreams into a worthwhile trophy
I could be writing out of my backside but who is to say that Arsenal will struggle to make top4? If we are next May then it’s curtains for Arteta.
This has been a solid window and the squad is still young. Not much in the way of oldies anymore. Will Salah maintain his momentum? VVD too.? Are City going to put right their last season? Nobody knows so I’m going to wait and see but I’m expecting to see a better Arsenal this time around and I’m quite excited
As a gooner, I’d like to see our competition (yes, it exists) have terrible injury problems and our gunners win the title. However, especially with so many huge changes in the squads, it would be fascinating to see the big clubs have no serious injury problems and truly battle it out toe to toe.
That would be interesting to see. bB
“The sum of money spent so far is irrelevant because the base was so low.” – I’m not sure that KSE would agree with you there, certainly not this season (so far).
As I said earlier, if there’s no trophy to show in 2025-26 then I think Arteta will be out. After all, following such a successful window (and it may not be over yet with, possibly, Eze to come), the disappointment should there be yet another trophyless season will be crushing – and it will almost certainly crush Mikel.
Bertie
I wasn’t talking about now but rather when Arteta took over. Otherwise I agree
Amen 🫶
PJ, you aren’t a fan if you expect to win things because the club has only spent 1 billion to keep it ticking over. There are some limp supporters😂
Yip very sad Reggie. These “supporters” have more excuses than expectation which is quite embarrassing.
Very clear they’ve never been held to any kind of standard before and if they were, they’d probably play victim.
I guess some people just don’t understand a winning mentaility
The only question with regard to using excuses/reasons is really whether we believe they are good/factual excuses/reasons or bad/unsupported excuses/reasons given the circumstances, whatever they may be.
Good point BB
Truth is, he is either capable or he isn’t. And if he isn’t get someone in who can get a return on all the investment. Its not about sentiment, its about ability.
I believe the last three seasons have shown that he is capable of a first place finish regardless of whether he happened to have actually done so yet or not. To me it is not the same as answering the question of whether he should be deemed to have had enough time, resources, luck, etc. etc. to have actually finished first in one or more of his seasons.
But he wasn’t capable and thats a fact. He failed.
3x and failed in the domestic cups 5x, since getting rid of a team that actually won one.
Personally,
I thought Arsenal were lucky to win it, regardless of who was in the team and who bought them. Beginner’s luck? Covid? Lots of reasons. I recall winning the FA Cup against a much, much better Utd team in the dark ages. It happens.
That’s not really the point Sue, though, is it? The team he inherited were that poor, they won the FA cup, not a great achievement but they won a domestic cup. The team was split because it was not good enough for the manager. The team now, not only are not competing in the domestic cups, they are not able to win the league or CL. The managers tactics have failed on numerous occasions. Finishing 2nd in the league is not a disaster but it is not success either. If Arteta can not bring success get someone in who can. I see nothing at all wrong with that last statement. Why do some fans at Arsenal try and defend failure, i di not know. Maybe thats the culture at this club and why we are not winning?
So they did, Reggie. Would you have kept that lot who did win it? So much talk of giving away players but who was worth keeping? Auba at that time was, but he then disgraced himself.
As for Arteta, I am not advocating keeping him if he falls short this season, but I don’t buy into your opinion that he is a failure either or more to the point, not a good manager.. AW and UE were both tried and tested managers who couldn’t get us over the proverbial line during the City/Chelsea dominance. Only Liverpool have regained their impetus and broken through
Sue, we have been through this before. How bad were they really, they won an FA cup. How well have we done in the FA cup since. You don’t have to answer, because its written in black and white. Its very easy to say they were bad but they won something. Thats more than we have won since.
So did Wigan and where are they now?
Whats Wigans demise got to do with Arsenal and our failure ar least win an FA Cup or Carribou or better still, the league or CL?
Cup games are a bit of a lottery as we all know. The CL and the league are the main prizes and in both cases, we came very close. That doesn’t make Arteta any more of a failure last season than Pep. Forget his record as that doesn’t count towards what took place in 2024/25. Liverpool and PSG were the winners. Domestically it was Palace and Newcastle. 4 trophies to win in a highly competitive environment
As far as you’re concerned, whoever it is who replaces Arteta has to do better immediately. A talented squad who you believe Arteta is mismanaging should be a cakewalk for the next guy. I just don’t think it’s that straightforward.
👍 SueP but don’t forget Spuds 🤣 they were winners and we were losers because they won a trophy and we did not 🤦♂️
Correct, they won a trophy Arteta failed to win.
I was being factual and sarcastic at the same time. I wouldn’t trade places with a Spuds fan last season or any other for all the tea in China.
Clearly Reggie here would rather be in the Spuds shoes.
We have the rather odd argument here that the 2019 team was better than the current one because they won the FA.
Those players and that team got Emery sacked. Yet we have people now trying to rewrite history and claim they weren’t that bad.
Do you read posts David? Who said they were better? The fact is, as bad as people are making out, they won an FA Cup. This team that is supposed to be better, have a dismal record in both domestic cups. Why were they so bad and this team so good, when this team has constantly failed to actually carry through and that team did. It isn’t about better, its about achievement and ability to actually win something. We have finished three time runner up but at least twice, we blew it. Last season we couldn’t land a blow. But lower down the ladder, why is this so great team, set up, so bad in the domestic cups?
Obviously BB but they won a trophy with a s#/t team, that we couldn’t win.
It wasn’t a s#/t team for the Europa League but would have been for the UCL.
This is the point BB. The only way that Spurs could stand a chance in the EL was to give up the ghost in the league. They were lucky that the lower clubs had come up from the Championship and were hopelessly ill equipped to stay up. Any other year, Spurs would have gone down or struggled to win the EL if still maintaining a decent challenge in the league. A win in those circumstances would of course have been respected more. All opinion of course.
True SueP. Strangely enough the Spuds winning a trophy gave me a perfect example for expressing my opinion that winning a trophy isn’t (or shouldn’t be imo) the be all and end all attached to being a gooner or for that matter the “success” or “failure” of the Arsenal as a football club so that nothing else matters or can be appreciated for its own value. My sense of pride, accomplishment or love for my gunners is not inextricably tied to whether we win a trophy or not.
Still did better than us.
I’d much prefer to have a club which is good enough to compete in the UCL semis and finish second in the PL rather than one which is good enough to win the Europa League.
No, he hasn’t won it yet, that’s the fact.
His rebuild didn’t fail. Do you know what it means to be runner-up? The money we spent is much needed after Wenger left . Let’s support the team and hope for a great season. Victor doesn’t have the profile of Halland, Isak or Salah, Let’s hope he joins the elite for real.
In answer to your first sentence. Not good enough to win it!!!!
Sorry, in answer to your second sentence.
And ask yourself the question, why are they spending? Not to finish second and no trophies thats for sure. Lets get real.
👍👏
Well done management, let’s now get EZE……..
Welcome to Arsenal, Viktor. And what a fitting choice of shirt – the illustrious No: 14.
Now, let the scoring begin!
There’s this feeling around gooners that this is our year. If the midfield & defense will just continue with what they’ve showed in the last 2 seasons, then I have a certain confidence the attack will produce dis time around. Also MA must desist from playing VG out of position. 🤞
We must change formation 4-3-3 at times it’s easy to neutralize.Hopeful he adapt so fast.
Probably the best signing in Artetas tenure here (hopefully) and for a bargain price IMO ,60 odd million for a scoring machine ,let’s hope he can do it in the PL .
I hope Arteta lets him do his job ,he needs no coaching let’s not mess around with his position.
I know. I think it’s going to be his best signing, hopefully. And I hop MA doesn’t play him out of position. He’s known to do that from time to time lol
Finally he here.
Zubimendi, Gyokeres, Kepa, Norgaard, Madueke. Good summer transfer so far. Hopefully its not over
Liverpool have strengthed significantly too
We have had a fantastic window, and it’s still open 🙂
Didrik Plehn,
Well shut it, I can feel a draft. 😂🤣👍
Please follow him up. There shouldn’t be any false air or negative pressure
Haha 😁
Gyokeres.
Eze. Odegaard. Saka.
Rice. Zubimendi.
Skelly. Gabriel. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
Havertz.
Martinelli. Nwaneri. Madueke.
Merino. Norgaard.
Calafiori. Kiwior. Mosquera. White.
Kepa.
Kepa
Zubimendi
Norgaard
Madueke
Mosquera
Gyokeres
8/10 window for me so far.
Sign Eze and it will be a 9/10 window for me.
Add Rodrygo which is quite extra and it will be a 10/10 window for me.
Imagine a team with a fluid attack like this –
Gykores.
Rodrygo. Eze. Saka.
Rice. Zubimendi.
Skelly. Gabriel. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
Finally we have a no 9! Welcome to the Arsenal Viktor. I’ll concur with most people above that Arteta has and must deliver tangible success, failure to, hard questions should be asked. And deep down he knows it.
Here we go
Am finally happy at last, the GUNNERS striker is is here. I hope to see many trophy at arsenal most of all is the premier league and the champions league trophy.
Another tick on Berta’s list. What a job that man is doing.
There’s still a month left in the window for other business which is a huge improvement compared to last summer when it took Edu and colleagues almost the whole window to bring two players in (neither a striker, obviously)!
Well! Congratulations 💐 to the Gunners family! We eventually got a natural no 9 (finisher). Let us just support the team. No negativity but constructive criticism. COYG!!
A more holistic understanding is required.
From a purely sporting perspective the ultimate determinant of success is trophies.
However, from a business perspective things are more nuanced. Arsenal have been relatively successful over the last few years. The value of the club and the playing squad has grown. Arsenal are one of the most financially healthy teams in the PL and Europe. Consider that Arsenal now can almost routinely outbid a club the size of MU despite their history. Arsenal have had almost free runs at some of the top talent in Europe.
A lot of revenue is still coming in which is to a large part related to performances e.g. going deep into the CL and second place finishes in the PL.
The binary view of success and failure as often alluded to in discussions on forums such as these is a poor basis for business decisions.
Yes, the club and its owners want to be winners. However, the club can’t just make decisions on the basis of trophies alone otherwise you can risk the foundations of what you want to achieve. It’s a lot easier for certain fans to keep shouting on the sidelines. Many of them have little ability to assess risk.
Arsenal are in a very good, but not dominant position so much of the negative rhetoric is unhealthy and misplaced.
It certainly seems that the early points between David and myself have sparked some debate!!
I can only see one scenario that would make me think of changing my view that MA needs to win something this season and that’s if we have the same horrendous injury problems of last season.
I really don’t care what other clubs are doing, when we are spending north of £200 million and more, hopefully, to come in Eze.
This squad is what Mikel thinks will win us trophies and, if it doesn’t, it will have nothing to do with who Liverpool, City115, the chavs or even N are buying – Arteta has decided to buy the players he’s now got and, fingers crossed, he knows what he’s doing!!
If he doesn’t then (apart from the injury scenario) he won’t have been seen to know what he’s doing!!
Simple really and I’m backing him 100% David.
Firsly, the owners are spending money to generate more money. It’s called business and they are getting it. Money generation in football business is not just about trophies there are other means of generating revenue. Trophies is more for the club legacy and fans prize for support. Do you know that Arsenal generate more revenue than PSG last season?
Secondly, the idea of you must win a trophy this season or get sacked is fickle and unrealistic is the same narrative last season and here we are. It’s not the Arsenal way at least. Arteta is due a trophy and he’s been very UNLUCKY not to have won it already. He has no doubt built a team that can win trophies and it will happen with or without him. The fact is the Arteta’s decision has been a success. If he leaves today he’s leaving as a better manager and leaving a better club than it was. Win – Win situation. I do believe we’re going to win trophies this season and if not is more about Artetas leaving than being sacked.
For fans expectations, well, is individualistic but logical or not is understandable.
Positive energy Chronicle and 👍
I totally agree with your views.
And_ its officially official!!! Forget about the Madueke drama. Let’s get buzzing!