MSport DataScout: Arsenal Have Their No.9 — But Is He the One?

Arsenal have agreed a deal worth €63.5 million (plus €10m in add-ons) to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon. It’s their first proper number 9 purchase since the post-Aubameyang scramble, and Mikel Arteta seems convinced. But as the MSport DataScout, it’s my job to ask: is Gykeres the right fit for this Arsenal side, or are we looking at another expensive mismatch?

To understand if Gyökeres fits, we first need to understand the brief. Arteta’s Arsenal don’t play with a traditional poacher. They want a 9 who:

1. Can link play with his back to goal 
2. Make selfless runs to free up Saka, Martinelli, and Odegaard 
3. Press like a madman for 90 minutes 

In some ways, it’s a mix between what Firmino did for Klopp, and what Joao Pedro is doing for Chelsea, but wrapped in Arsenal’s fluid 3-2-5 buildup structure. 

This past season, Arteta used Kai Havertz and Merino as a false nine. Before that, it was Gabriel Jesus. Both brought intelligence and work rate, but neither was convincing in front of goal. When the pressure mounted late in the title race, the Gunners lacked a cold-blooded finisher. That’s what led them to Viktor. 

If you’ve been paying attention to Portuguese football, you already know what time it is. Viktor Gyokeres just dropped a 54-goal, 13-assist season in all competitions. No player scored more goals across Europe’s top leagues.

A classic “bags man,” Gyokeres is built like a striker from the 90s, but moves like a modern forward. At 6’2", he combines raw strength with surprising agility. You’ll often see him bully centre-backs, spin in behind, or drop into the left half-space to link up with midfielders.

And he’s productive. Very productive.

2024/25 (Sporting Lisbon)

📊Total goals: 54 
📊Total assists: 13 
📊xG per 90: 0.65 
📊Shots per 90: 3.97 
📊Successful take-ons per 90: 2.34 
📊Touches in box per 90: 7.13 

You read that right. More than seven touches in the opponent's box per game. That’s a striker who lives in the danger zone.

His 1v1 strength is frightening too. In Sporting’s press-and-pounce system, Gyokeres would often win duels, spin defenders, and drive forward like a Viking with a mission. He thrives in direct transitions, but can he adapt to Arsenal’s slower, positional play?

To find out, I built a simple Python-based profile comparison tool using data from FBRef. I compared Gyokeres with Arsenal’s current strikers (Jesus, Havertz) and with Benjamin Sesko, another name Arsenal tracked.

📊Club Career Games = Gyokeres (395), Gabriel Jesus (415), Kai Havertz (441), Benjamin Sesko (224). 

📊Club Career Goals = Gyokeres (220), Gabriel Jesus (149), Kai Havertz (135), Benjamin Sesko (100). 

📊Club Career Assists = Gyokeres (65), Gabriel Jesus (73), Kai Havertz (64), Benjamin Sesko (26). 

📊Goals per 90= Gyokeres (0.56), Gabriel Jesus (0.43), Kai Havertz (0.38), Benjamin Sesko (0.50). 

No matter how you cut it, Viktor is outproducing the lot.

Ebuka (on X): “Gyokeres has more goals for Sweden than Isak despite making his national team debut two years after Isak did. I’ll not be gaslit. This is a bags man.” 

He’s not Cristiano Ronaldo. But Gyokeres offers something Arsenal haven’t had in years: a striker who lives for goals, and isn’t afraid to fight for them.

He fits more than people think. His touch can improve, sure. He’ll need to adapt to Arsenal’s slower rhythm and tighter spaces. But he gives Arteta a different dimension.

This isn’t a panic buy. It’s a statement. Arsenal believes this is their guy. Now it’s up to Viktor to prove that being “the one” isn’t just about fit — it’s about fire.

David Ornstein:“Agreement in principle reached for Viktor Gyökeres move from Sporting Lisbon to Arsenal. Deal worth €63.5m guaranteed + €10m add-ons… Sweden striker’s representative waives fee to help facilitate switch.”

This isn’t a panic buy. It’s a statement. Arsenal believes this is their guy. Now it’s up to Viktor to prove that being “the one” isn’t just about fit, it’s about fire.