Mikel Arteta could be about to add the final puzzle piece to his Arsenal squad.placeholder image
Mikel Arteta could be about to add the final puzzle piece to his Arsenal squad. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Charlton Athletic striker Matty Godden knows Viktor Gyokeres well thanks to time at Coventry City.
Arsenal continue an impressive summer of transfer business under new sporting director Andrea Berta as they push forward with the signing of Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.
The Blues forward is set for a medical with the Gunners this week and will join Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi as players through the doors at the Emirates Stadium this summer. Berta is fast ticking his transfer priorities off and next up is a talisman.
All of those signings are important additions for Arsenal but, truly, the acquisition the club needs more than anything is a bagsman. The Gunners lacked a cutting edge last season and it was a lack of goals that ultimately cost them a chance to compete in a title race.
Arsenal close to signing vital talisman
Arsenal drew 14 matches in the Premier League last season, five more than Liverpool. If the Gunners had found the goal to turn five of those points to three points, the extra 10 points gained would have seen them level with the Champions on points.
The equation, therefore, seems quite simple. Find those five winning goals and the 2025/26 campaign will have a completely different look. Last season, Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres scored 54 goals.
It appears as if the 27-year-old is now the frontrunner to lead the line for Arsenal. It’s been months of transfer rumours but the latest from Fabrizio Romano at the end of last week was: "Calma about the Gyokeres story. There was a crazy excitement on Sunday, and I understand that because Arsenal made important progress. Arsenal are in very advanced talks for Viktor Gyokeres and that doesn’t change. So it remains advanced. It remains concrete. It remains absolutely on."
There is surely little doubt that if Gyokeres scores in the same prolific manner in the Premier League as he has done in Portugal, that Arsenal can finally with the Premier League under Arteta. The question is, can Gyokeres make that transition?
Matty Godden gives insider Viktor Gyokeres verdict
Charlton Athletic striker Matty Godden has given his opinion on that matter. The Addicks front man played alongside Gyokeres during his time at Coventry City and knows the player’s drive first hand.
In music to the ears of Gunners supporters, Godden told Sky Sports: “If I know Vik as a character, he’s not gonna stop. He always believed that he would play in the Premier League one day, whether that was when he left Coventry or beyond. It didn’t happen for him straight away when he left Coventry but I think he’s made an unbelievable decision to go to Sporting and increase his profile even more so.
“He was very driven, very self minded. If two or three defenders come to try and take the ball off him, his mentality is that he’ll run through all of you. That’s the way he is. He’ll come across a little raw at times some would say but he’s definitely improved technically since his move from Coventry. Now is the time that he will come into the Premier League and really hit the ground running.
“Being the number nine that he is and the numbers he’s returned over the past two years, if he’s going to a team - and I know there are all sorts of rumours - but if he goes to the one that’s heavily rumoured they’ll create chances for him. If you’re creating chances for a confident striker who has scored 90 odd goals in 100 games, he’s going to score. I’d back him.”
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