In his first in-depth interview since joining Arsenal, new star striker Viktor Gyökeres has revealed the key reasons behind his decision to move to the Emirates Stadium, highlighting the significant role the club’s strong pursuit played in his choice.
The Swedish international, who arrived in a big-money transfer from Sporting CP, explained to The Athletic that Arsenal’s clear and persistent desire to sign him was a decisive factor. “I felt that they wanted me here,” he said. “But also because it’s a very big club with a lot of history. I just felt that I really wanted to come here and be a part of this club.”
Gyökeres acknowledged that there was interest from “other clubs as well”—a clear reference to a late attempt from Manchester United—but ultimately stated, “I didn’t feel it was a difficult choice for me.”
The new signing also discussed the pressure of taking the iconic No. 14 shirt, made famous at Arsenal by club legend Thierry Henry. He candidly admitted the choice was partly a practical one, noting, “there weren’t too many numbers to pick from.”
He was quick, however, to downplay direct comparisons to the French icon. “It’s not really my intention to be compared with what [Henry]’s achieved in his career, especially here,” Gyökeres stated. “I just want to do my own thing and show my qualities. Of course, he was an amazing player, but different from me.”
The 27-year-old, who arrives after scoring an incredible 97 goals in two seasons for Sporting, insisted that he puts enough pressure on himself to succeed. “I think I have enough expectations on myself. I’ll just try to perform,” he concluded.
Gyökeres’s words will be music to the ears of Arsenal fans, as his clear commitment, respect for the club’s history, and focused mentality show exactly why Mikel Arteta and the board were so determined to make him their new number nine.