Arsenal set to push for Viktor Gyokeres as injuries bite - why he fits Arteta perfectly

Arsenal have accelerated plans to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres as injuries and heavy rotation blunt their edge in both boxes. Multiple recruitment figures I spoke to this week described Gyokeres as the front-running No 9 target for January, with confidence building that a deal structure can be found. Arteta wants a striker who presses, pins center backs and finishes first time. Gyokeres ticks every box. After another prolific run of form in Portugal, the timing aligns. The message from London Colney is simple: if the price and payment profile are right, Arsenal will move decisively.

The push comes after a demanding autumn schedule that has exposed Arsenal's lack of a dominant penalty-box forward. Rotation up front has cost rhythm, while the injury list has shortened the bench and forced tactical compromises. Arsenal's scouting coverage of Sporting CP dates back to last season, with repeated live checks across league and Europe. Internal data reports rate Gyokeres highly for shot volume, pressing intensity and carry-to-shot conversion. The recruitment team have kept open lines with intermediaries to understand clause expectations and feasible payment terms.

🔴⚪ A clearer look at what Arsenal’s injuries and rotation are really doing to their level — and why Gyökeres is at the centre of it. 👇

@EBL2017

Impact Analysis

From a tactical perspective, Gyokeres solves three problems at once. First, he attacks the near post relentlessly, giving Arsenal a consistent threat on low crosses from Saka and Martinelli. Too often this season, the ball flashes across the six-yard box with no red shirt arriving on time. Gyokeres lives there. Second, his back-to-goal play is strong enough to let Odegaard and Havertz combine off the second ball. That allows Arteta to keep the right-sided box midfield intact without sacrificing presence in the area. Third, he presses on straight lines and recovers into compact shapes quickly, which matters for Arsenal's rest-defense structure that relies on immediate ball pressure to protect a high line.

Data backs the eye test. Last season he was among the league leaders in non-penalty xG per 90 and shots on target, with a high rate of first-time finishes inside the box. He also ranks well for progressive carries and fouls drawn, exactly the blend Arsenal lack when games become scrappy. Compared to Gabriel Jesus, Gyokeres offers more penalty-area volume and fewer touches in build-up, which is precisely what Arteta has hinted at in recent briefings about verticality. In short, he brings penalty-box gravity without breaking Arsenal's pressing identity. That is why the football side is pushing hard.

Reaction

Fan threads today felt split in tone. A big chunk of Arsenal supporters are all-in, pointing to Gyokeres' ruthless streak and calling him the missing piece if the club want to turn dominance into points during a brutal winter run. Many flagged how often Arsenal create the right cross or cutback only to lack that last touch. Gyokeres answers that. Others worry about the fee and whether a large outlay in January could limit summer flexibility. A recurring theme is the relief of targeting a striker who actually thrives in contact rather than another hybrid forward.

There was also the usual swirl on social platforms where a few conversations veered wildly off topic, even into side debates about AI bots and deleted threads. That noise aside, the football chat settled on two questions. One, can Arsenal negotiate around a big clause with a creative structure. Two, would his arrival stunt minutes for the young forwards. The majority response from match-going fans I spoke to tonight was pragmatic. Titles are won with goals, and if the medical room stays busy, this profile is non-negotiable. The mood is impatient but optimistic.

Social reactions

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Prediction

Here is how this likely plays out. Arsenal table an initial proposal that respects Sporting CP's valuation while smoothing cash flow with staged payments and achievable add-ons linked to appearances and Champions League progress. Sporting will hold firm on headline numbers, but a compromise becomes realistic if Arsenal offer a strong upfront chunk plus sell-on protection. The presence of a release clause means clarity, not inevitability. The timing advantage is Arsenal's. They have done the homework, they know the player's camp, and the football case is overwhelming.

Competitive tension may arrive if an English rival seeks a late window shake-up, but Arsenal's project and tactical fit give them the inside track. If the medical situation does not improve by early January, expect the club to accelerate. A stop-gap loan is unlikely because it does not change the finishing problem. The clean scenario sees agreement late in the window and immediate integration, with Arteta using him in a 4-3-3 as the central reference. If Sporting insist on full clause terms, Arsenal keep dialogue warm and revisit in the summer, but the sense from London is this is the window to strike.

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Conclusion

I spent the afternoon calling people who would know, and the consensus was unusually aligned. Arsenal have identified Gyokeres as the right striker for the way they play right now. Not a vanity buy. A system fit. He brings penalty-box presence, repeatable movement and the aggression that turns good chances into simple finishes. When injuries hit and rotation blunts rhythm, you either double down on control or you add a finisher. Arsenal are choosing the latter, without compromising their press.

Deals of this size are never simple, but the intent is there and the homework is complete. If Sporting engage in good faith on structure, Arsenal are ready. If not, they will not panic, yet the internal belief is that this opportunity aligns with the team’s competitive peak. Expect noise, posturing and a few twists. Underneath it, the football logic holds. Gyokeres to Arsenal makes sense on tape, in data and on the balance sheet if structured correctly. That is why the mood around the deal tonight is quietly confident.