Viktor Gyökeres to Arsenal: Can the Swedish Striker Maintain His Scoring Streak in the Premier League?

Top Scorers in Europe’s Premier Leagues

Arsenal appears close to finalizing the transfer of a new striker. The north London club has been under pressure to find a new number nine, and reports suggest they are nearing a deal with Sporting for prolific goal-scorer Viktor Gyökeres. As reported by The Athletic, personal terms for a five-year contract are agreed, with an initial fee of €63.5 million alongside potential add-ons of €10 million. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta aims to resolve the situation swiftly as the squad prepares for pre-season training this July.

Previously, Arsenal showed interest in RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, but the German club’s unwillingness to lower their asking price for the Slovenian led the Gunners to pursue other options. Andrea Berta, the new Sporting Director at Arsenal, has long admired Gyökeres. The Swedish international was brought to Sporting from Coventry for €24 million in 2023 and has been impressively prolific during both of his seasons in Portugal. His current market value has surged to €75 million, and since joining Sporting, he leads all players in Europe’s top-10 leagues with the most goals scored. The big question now remains: Will the 27-year-old be able to translate his extraordinary form in Liga Portugal to the highly competitive Premier League? We seek to analyze this with insight from experts in Portugal.

Can Viktor Gyökeres Maintain His Scoring Record in the Premier League?

The graphic above illustrates that Gyökeres has scored 68 goals in just 66 league matches over the past two seasons—more than any player in Europe’s top-10 leagues. Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane follows closely with 62 goals. However, it’s important to recognize that these impressive stats do not guarantee Gyökeres will replicate this success at Arsenal. The quality of Liga Portugal is not on par with the Premier League, and throughout his career, Gyökeres has yet to play in a top-five league (Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1).

It’s also worth noting that 17 of his 68 goals came from penalties. Nonetheless, it should be acknowledged that last season, Arteta successfully adapted midfielder Mikel Merino for an attacking role, despite him having never played there before. He also molded Kai Havertz into a striker during the German’s time at the Emirates. If Arteta can optimize the talent of players like Gyökeres—who is a natural goal-scorer—there’s potential for significant results.

Gonçalo Tristão Santos, Area Manager at Transfermarkt in Portugal, highlights some of Gyökeres’ notable strengths: “Gyökeres is a physically dominant striker with impressive movement, especially during transitions. His key attributes include explosive acceleration, strong ball-carrying, and instinctive finishing inside the box. He’s surprisingly quick for his size, often outrunning defenders in counter-attacks, and is adept at holding the ball and linking up with teammates.” While Arsenal tends to control possession and dictate games, reducing counter-attacking opportunities, his hold-up play will be crucial.

“Regarding his weaknesses, his first touch can be inconsistent under pressure, and while he can pass reasonably well, it’s not one of his standout skills,” Santos added. “He is among the most complete and impactful strikers Liga Portugal has seen recently. Since joining Sporting, he’s combined physicality, technical skills, and a clinical finishing ability in a unique way. I would rank him among the elite, comparable to names like Mário Jardel or Radamel Falcao. Gyökeres also shares characteristics with another Swedish forward in the Premier League, Alexander Isak. They both possess an ability to drift wide, intelligently exploit spaces, and finish with composure. Although Gyökeres may be more aggressive and ‘raw’, both offer mobility and unpredictability against high defensive lines.”

While Gyökeres has many essential traits for making a significant impact in the Premier League, the question remains: can he seamlessly transition to this elevated level of competition? “I have confidence in his ability to succeed in the Premier League,” Santos stated. “He has already demonstrated his capability in physical leagues, especially during his Championship days, and he has developed further at Sporting—both tactically and technically. The crucial factor will be how swiftly he acclimatizes to the faster pace and more complex defenses of the Premier League. However, with the right support from his teammates, he could truly excel, particularly at a robust club like Arsenal.”

“If the transfer fee is around €70 million, it represents a substantial investment. However, considering his marketability, performance at Sporting, and the state of today’s transfer market, it is warranted. He could be the long-term answer to Arsenal’s number nine conundrum, providing both goals and a tireless work ethic. If the club can integrate him effectively, it would be a smart acquisition.” However, at 27, Gyökeres will face high expectations to make an immediate impact in north London. Arsenal needs results quickly, hoping that prolific scorer Gyökeres can replicate his effective form from Portugal in the demanding environment of the Premier League, leading the team to major trophy success once again.