Viktor Gyokeres arrived at Arsenal with huge expectations and even bigger headlines. After destroying defences in Portugal and finishing last season as Europe’s most prolific striker, many believed he would take the Premier League by storm. But football, especially in England, rarely follows a simple script.
The Swedish international completed a £63 million move to north London after an explosive spell at Sporting Clube de Portugal. In Portugal, Gyokeres was not just a striker, he was a phenomenon. He scored goals at will, bullied defenders with his strength, and punished teams with his speed. Arsenal fans expected instant fireworks.
Instead, his first months at the Emirates Stadium have been challenging. Gyokeres has scored five goals in 15 Premier League matches so far. While that return is not disastrous, it is far from the standard he set in Portugal, where he scored 63 goals in 58 games across all competitions.
These numbers have sparked debate among fans and pundits. Some question whether Gyokeres truly fits Arsenal’s style. Others argue that patience is needed. Mikel Arteta, however, has remained calm and has repeatedly defended his striker in public.
To better understand what is really happening behind the scenes, Portuguese journalist Miguel Costa, who closely followed Gyokeres during his breakout season in Lisbon, shared exclusive insight into the striker’s struggles and strengths.
“When he joined Sporting, there were a lot of questions about his ability to make an impact in Portugal,” Costa explained. “The price that Sporting paid €24 million (£21m) fuelled further uncertainty amongst fans but he turned the game around and gave the club an unimaginable return, both on and off the pitch.”
Costa believes Gyokeres has already faced doubt before and overcome it. This time, however, the challenge is different. England is not Portugal, and the Premier League demands immediate adaptation at the highest level.
“[In England], I believe pre-season was the primary factor in his initial difficulties,” Costa said. “Having not had that preparation with the rest of the players clearly hampered his initial adaptation.”
Without a full pre-season, Gyokeres had less time to build chemistry with his teammates. In a team like Arsenal, where movement, timing, and quick passing are everything, this lack of preparation matters.
“We can see he has struggled to adapt to his teammates and quickly achieve a competitive rhythm in a league completely different from the Portuguese one,” Costa added. “The collective weakness of teams is greater in Portugal than in the Premier League.”
The physical side of English football has also played a major role. Costa was clear about the demands Gyokeres now faces every week.
“The Premier League is the best league in the world where there is a more physical demand which is evident in every match,” he said. “There is a very high technical dimension that Gyokeres does not fully master and he needs to improve in this aspect.”
According to Costa, this includes combination play, decision-making, and dribbling in tight spaces. These are skills Arsenal rely on heavily, especially when facing deep defensive blocks.
Another major issue is tactical fit. At Sporting, Gyokeres thrived in a system that allowed him to attack space. At Arsenal, space is limited.
“Arsenal’s style of play does not favour Gyokeres the same way it did at Sporting,” Costa explained. “The Gunners play mostly with the ball and in positional attack, which does not allow the Swede to explore speed, which is the main characteristic of his game.”
Without space to run into, Gyokeres often looks less dangerous. In Portugal, many of his goals came from quick transitions and powerful runs from the left into central areas.
“In Portugal, there was considerable discussion about Gyokeres’ suitability for Arsenal’s model,” Costa said. “The rapid passing game makes his adaptation difficult and, consequently, hinders the fluidity of the team’s attacks.”
Costa does not believe Arteta will change his system to suit one player. Instead, the responsibility lies with Gyokeres.
“I think he will hardly fit in ‘naturally’ as Mikel Arteta has his own very defined game model,” he said. “The change will have to come from the player, through hard work in training, and it will be a process that will require time.”
However, Costa also believes Gyokeres is not being fully used by his teammates. According to him, Arsenal could do more to play to the striker’s strengths.
“[They can] explore Gyokeres’ counter-attacks and inside-out movements more,” he observed, even if it is difficult in a league where Arsenal usually dominate possession.
Interestingly, Costa sees the Champions League as a potential turning point. Against teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid, or PSG, space will exist.
“In ‘open’ games, he can make the difference coming off the bench,” Costa said. “His speed and strength can be decisive.”
Competition is also rising within the squad. Gabriel Jesus has returned from injury in strong form and offers a different profile.
“Yes, potentially [a threat],” Costa admitted. “The Brazilian is a more associative player and fits perfectly into what Arteta wants.”
Still, Gyokeres has something unique. “Gyokeres’ physical attributes put him ahead of his teammate in certain competitive contexts,” Costa stressed, while reminding that “patience is fundamental.”
Despite the struggles, optimism remains strong. Arteta is known for backing his players, and Gyokeres has already proven his quality at the highest level.
“The first season is always more complicated at all levels,” Costa concluded. “But I am optimistic about the next season for the former Sporting striker, who already has better chemistry with the team.”
His record in Portugal still speaks loudly. “He was, without a doubt, one of the best strikers ever to play in Portuguese football: 102 games, 97 goals and 27 assists. Stratospheric numbers.”
For Arsenal fans, the message is clear. Viktor Gyokeres’ story in north London is not a failure. It is a process. And sometimes, the most dangerous strikers need time before they explode again.
