🔗 Share this article

In the event that Viktor Gyökeres goes on to become the striker that all Arsenal fans have been hoping for, then possibly they will look back on this night as the moment his luck turned around. In keeping with the timeless attacker’s creed, it isn’t important how they go in.

On the back of nine matches for Arsenal and Sweden without a goal and pressure mounting on the man acquired for a hefty fee in the offseason, a massive sense of release swept over the Emirates Stadium when Gyökeres tapped in from near distance via a deflection off David Hancko during a thrilling second half when Mikel Arteta’s side proved yet again that they are serious contenders this season.

Stunning Reversal in Luck

Shortly after and to the delight of the stadium crowd, his mask celebration modeled after the villain Bane in Batman, whose signature quote is “nobody cared until I put on the mask,” was given another airing after forcing home from Gabriel Magalhães’s header following a Declan Rice corner to finish the demolition against Atlético Madrid. Down on the touchline, Arteta raised his fists and motioned emphatically in the direction of his new centre forward, of whom he has spent the previous 14 days insisting the best was yet to come.

“That’s the game, and we shouldn’t anticipate a player to move leagues and have him replicate his form immediately,” the Arsenal manager stated in a discussion with the Spanish newspaper Marca prior to the match. “Things are very different. All players in the world need one thing: their psychological state to be at its best. I informed Viktor in our introductory chat that the center forward I desired at Arsenal was someone who could stay resilient when they faced a goal drought without scoring. Failing that, you’re not cut out at this standard. That’s why I have a lot of faith in him.”

Early Challenges

It was as a 14-year-old playing for IFK Aspudden-Tellus, who are based in Stockholm’s southside districts, that Gyökeres first understood he would have to toughen up to make it in his vocation. Criticised after a subpar outing by a coach who said he was not mentally equipped to make it in professional play, he ultimately switched from a wide player into a striker after moving to Brommapojkarna two years later. “That comment resonated and I recall it now,” he said in a recent interview.

Difficult Phase

Without a goal since the triumph over Nottingham Forest at home back on 13 September, this has been one of the hardest times of his professional life. Gyökeres was heavily criticised after Sweden were defeated by Kosovo and Switzerland in World Cup qualifiers in the previous 14 days, with one newspaper labeling his display against the latter as “unnoticeable.”

He managed an incredible 54 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions for Sporting last season, so the difficulty is evidently not his finishing. In line with the coach’s repeated comments, his complete game has provided additional depth in offense, even if the opportunities have not fallen his way.

Key Moments

This was clearly apparent during the first half of this high‑quality encounter between two teams that had originally looked evenly matched. There was a impression that Gyökeres was pressing too much to stand out as he bustled about like a bull in a china shop during the early stages. An Eberechi Eze shot that glanced on to the bar inside the initial stages was created by some quick moves on the edge of the Atlético area that skillfully evaded from his marker, José María Giménez.

The defender has the aura of a man who could start a fight in an empty bar but is vastly experienced at this standard compared with Gyökeres, who is participating in just his second Champions League campaign after netting three goals for Sporting against Manchester City last season that must have gone a long way to convincing Arteta to make the move.

Unyielding Drive

Yet having attracted criticism that he was carrying a few too many pounds after missing most of pre-season in Portugal, Arsenal’s much more svelte-looking striker harried all opponents as if his future was at stake. Giménez was fooled into conceding a caution when Gyökeres made contact on the edge of the Atlético area having only been stationary. Gabriel Martinelli saw his attempt canceled for offside after converting Bukayo Saka’s cross and it only came in the second half that the Swede had his initial opportunity.

A sumptuous flick from Martinelli created an ideal chance, only for Jan Oblak to swiftly block an unconvincing toe-poke towards goal. At that stage it must have appeared that the first score would not arrive. But the floodgates opened when Gabriel nodded in Rice’s free-kick and Gyökeres was perfectly positioned to benefit as the man in the mask left his imprint. “Hopefully this is the beginning of a great run,” said a delighted Arteta.