Viktor Gyokere’s incredible body transformation makes him “perfect fit” for Arsenal, says Thierry Henry
However, the Gunners legend has urged the fans to be “patience” with their new No.9 in their bid to win a first Prem title since 2004.
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Boss Mikel Arteta has made Swedish striker Gyokeres signed to his mark this summer in an agreement of £ 63.5 million from Sporting Lisbon.
The 27-year-old has experienced English football before-failure to make a single premium appearance for Brighton between 2017 and 2021 before spending two years at Coventry in the championship where he scored 40 goals in 97 excursions.
Then Gyokeres was a raw and lean young who learned his trade-in a recent photography, he has proven that he has since collected in a goal-complex monster, Netting 97 goals in 102 performances for Sporting.
And club legend Henry said, “He was already in England, let’s not forget it. He was on Coventry, he couldn’t do it at Brighton.
“So you can see a guy who already knows what fights is and comes back from it.
“He is more safe, and you can see from his body that he has taken care of himself, how he has changed.
“You have a guy who is a killer in the box – numbers do not lie – and you have a team that creates many chances, so that should be the perfect match.”
At his luxurious penthouse in Lisbon, Gyokeres had a built-in gym where he kept in shape and revealed for Sunsport last month that he spent his days sleeping, eating and working at home while waiting for his Arsenal movement to be rubber-tuned on July 26.
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One of six incomes in this transfer window is considered Gyokeres as the missing piece of the puzzle in the Arteta’s bid to end Arsenal’s 21-year-old wait for the Premier League title-after having finished second for three years on the spin.
Gyokeres netted his first goal for North Londoners in his 3-0 victory before the season over Athletic Bilbao on the Emirate last weekend.
And there is tremendous pressure on the striker to hit the ground in Arsenal’s Prem opener away at Manchester United on Sunday -Donate Henry’s famous No. 14 shirt.
But Henry-that made a club record 228 goals for Arsenal between 1999 and 2006 and lifted two league titles in 2002 and 2004 achers that it can take time for Gyokeres to make their mark.
The Frenchman said, “It’s always unfair when I talk about an attacker, it gives unnecessary pressure because it goes beyond.
“What you want is for people to be patience with him, and what is annoying right now is that people are not so patience anymore.
“They want the guy to perform directly, score goals right away and make us win immediately, which does not happen often. Sometimes it doesn’t click directly.
“I love when people show me what they can do, and then I can talk. Right now people love to talk before the show.”
Arsenal now has an impressive set of attack options that also include Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Leandro Trossard.
Henry continued: “I am an Arsenal fan, I obviously hope he will do well, set goals for us and guide us to a title, but he will not do it alone.
“We have seen that goals do not always assure you a title. We have seen guys with crazy numbers, but they won nothing. The team around them must be good.
“From what I have seen from him and how he quits, hopefully it will be a good match and we can finally go back to lift that trophy. But many teams want to lift it.”
Arsenal’s transfer agreement
- Viktor Gyöpes – From Sporting Lisbon – £ 72 million
- Noni Madueke – from Chelsea – £ 52 million
- Martin Zubimendi – from Real Sociedad – £ 51 million
- Christian Norgaard – from Brentford – £ 15 million
- Cristhian Mosquera – from Valencia – £ 13 million
- Kepa Arrizabalaga – from Chelsea – £ 5 million
Total – £ 208 million
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- Nuno taveres – to lazio – £ 4.4 million
- Marquinhos – to Cruzeiro – £ 2.6 million
- Jorginho – to flamengo – free
- Kieran Tierney – to Celtic – free
- Takehiro Tomiyasu – released
- Thomas Party – released
Total – 7 million pounds
Arsenal Transfer News Live
Gyokeres had to go on strike in Sporting to get their Arsenal trait, while police are currently investigating a shooting and alleged extortion plot with the relative of an agent connected to the extended deal that was captured in a double blast in Stockholm, Sweden.
The spotlight is on Gyokeres after a disturbed before the season, but Henry added: “You saw his goal against Athletic Bilbao.
“That instinct and understanding of predicting the cross, a large headline with soft touch to guide it to the other side of the target – he is a proper No. 9. It is the goal for a 9.
“He is not a Firmino type of 9 that will let in the midfield. He wants to be in the box, between the posts, and he said it himself – please put the ball in the box and serve me.”
Arteta comes under tremendous pressure if Arsenal does not raise silver goods this campaign – their last trophy coming in FA Cup 2020 – and has a nightmare to start meeting United, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Newcastle in their first six matches.
When he talked to Betway, Henry said: “For Arsenal it will be the year? That’s what it will be for the whole season. They will release points, they will win games.
“Can they do it? There has been one thing for a very long time, but this year I think will be the year where something must happen.
“If you are not starting well, questions will be raised directly because of what has happened recently.”