Shades of Arsenal legend as Viktor Gyokeres announces himself to Gunners faithful

LONDON – Striker Viktor Gyokeres announced himself to Arsenal’s fans with two goals in a 5-0 English Premier League win over Leeds United in his first home league game on Aug 23, with his opener reminding many of them of their previous hero in the No. 14 shirt he now wears, Thierry Henry.

After a stuttering start, the 27-year-old brought the crowd to their feet in the 48th minute, cutting in from the left like Henry in his prime before sending a low shot in at the near post and wheeling away to celebrate.

But while his French predecessor was all flair and elegance, the muscular Swede banked on his physicality and surging power, giving the fans a taste of what is to come following his arrival from Sporting Lisbon in the summer. 

“I’m comfortable when the ball is coming in behind, especially on the left, and then cutting inside, and I know I’ll take the chance when I have it like that. It was nice goal to start off with,” the Swede told Sky Sports. 

He added a penalty in second-half stoppage time to make it two goals in two Premier League games for the Gunners, who will be looking to him to keep that strike rate up as they seek to finally win the league after three consecutive second-placed finishes in the league.

“Viktor is so powerful and determined in his actions, and you see that when he has the space he can attack people,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. 

With barely any pre-season with his new club, Gyokeres had looked a little anxious and out of sync in his first two games, but once the first goal went in he settled down and looked much more in sync with his new teammates. 

“It was important for me to get 90 minutes and get the rhythm and to get to know the team even more during this game,” he said. “I felt more comfortable in how we’re playing, and I think you can see that as well.”

So too can the rest of the league, who will be paying close attention to Arsenal's new danger man as the season wears on. 

“We have started off well with two wins and two clean sheets and a lot of goals. I think we are on the right path, but we can always do better and improve,” Gyokeres said, indicating he is up for the challenge.

However, victory came at a cost for Arteta as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard hobbled off injured just eight days before Arsenal’s trip to Liverpool.

Arteta said the injuries to Saka and Odegaard, just days after Kai Havertz was also ruled out by a knee injury, showed why he needs such a deep squad.

“We’ve learnt the lesson from last season and the squad that you need right now,” said Arteta.

“That is why we acted in the market the way that we have done because you have so many games, anything can happen.

“It happened to two of our most important players – we already lost Kai – so we are going to need everybody at his best and a lot of luck as well to not lose others.”

Saka had earlier found the net, while the Gunners’ two other goals came from an unlikely source, defender Jurrien Timber.

The Dutch international had scored just twice in 52 Arsenal appearances before Aug 23.

With Arsenal 4-0 up, Arteta could then afford the luxury of handing a Premier League debut to 15-year-old Max Dowman.

He became the second-youngest ever player to play in the English top-flight after teammate Ethan Nwaneri.

Dowman’s trickery won a penalty deep into stoppage time that Gyokeres gratefully dispatched.

“That was special for sure,” added Arteta on Dowman’s cameo display. “It is great to be able to change the energy in the stadium by bringing him in and he had an impact.” REUTERS, AFP