Arsenal players will have to be on their guard if Viktor Gyokeres joins the club, as he has a reputation for being a prankster.
The north Londoners have been heavily linked with a move for the Sporting Lisbon hitman, who could potentially be signed for around £60million. Gyokeres, 26, is one of Mikel Arteta's top targets, with the club deciding that a new No. 9 is their top priority.
His performances on the pitch and his immense goal tally speak for themselves. However, with the Sweden international team, he has shown a more crafty and mischievous side, as was evident in an amusing prank he carried out on a team-mate.
When he was still playing for Coventry City, he scored two goals in two games against international compatriot and then-Rotherham goalkeeper Viktor Johansson. When they reunited during the March 2023 international break, when Sweden faced Belgium and Azerbaijan, Gyokeres revealed that he had posted a cheeky Christmas present to his team-mate.
He told Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen: "He received a Christmas present after the goal. He got a picture of me scoring the goal, and I signed it and framed it. It was his Christmas present. Yes, it’s true, but he has teased me before when I haven’t scored. So it was nice now when I scored the goals."
Johansson confirmed he was able to see the funny side of Gyokeres' cheeky gift, saying: "Yes, he was. But I like that. I'll give it back later."
Viktor Gyokeres of Coventry City is blocked by Viktor Johansson of Rotherham United during the Sky Bet Championship between Coventry City and Rotherham United at The Coventry Building Society Arena on October 25, 2022 in Coventry, England.
Gyokeres scored twice against his international colleague in the 2022-23 Championship season (Image: Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
The centre-forward drew a blank when he faced Arsenal in the Champions League this year, so he would not be able to recreate the gift for David Raya if he was signed by Arteta. However, his prank suggests that Arsenal would be signing an entertaining and funny character in Gyokeres, as well as a player who has quickly become one of the most feared strikers on the planet.
This season, Gyokeres has contributed an incredible 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances for Sporting. In the Taca de Portugal final, Gyokeres forced extra time against Benfica by scoring a penalty in the 11th minute of added time.
After his side went on to win 3-1 in extra time, Gyokeres was asked about his future at the club. Not long after the final whistle, he told reporters: "Let us see.
Goal scorer Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP celebrates with the trophy after winning the Portuguese Cup Final at the end of the Portuguese Cup 2024/2025 - Final match between SL Benfica and Sporting CP at Estadio Nacional on May 25, 2025 in Oeiras, Portugal
Gyokeres lifted his second trophy of the campaign (Image: Getty Images)
"It's hard for me to say, because yeah it is football and you never know what’s going to happen in the summer. So for me to say anything else than that is impossible."
When asked specifically about Arsenal, he added: "I don't know, I just focus on this. I’ve tried to focus on the last games because it’s so important and I don’t want to think about anything else. So yeah, if anything is true, let’s see in the summer.”
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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