Arsenal finally settled on Viktor Gyokeres as their new No.9 following a lengthy transfer saga, but the Swede's arrival has forced Mikel Arteta into a change of tactics
19:43, 03 Aug 2025
Viktor Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres is Arsenal's new No.9(Image: Getty Images)
After a drawn-out transfer saga over the summer, Arsenal finally landed Viktor Gyokeres as their fresh attacking linchpin.
However, the Swede's arrival has called for a tactical rejig for the Gunners compared to past seasons. Both Newcastle's Alexander Isak, who's caught Liverpool's eye, and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, on Manchester United's wishlist, were in the running for the spot.
But ultimately, Arsenal opted to snap up Gyokeres from Sporting CP in a deal that could potentially hit £63.5million. On paper, the signing finally hands Arsenal the classic No.9 they've been craving for a while.
Gabriel Jesus seemed to have filled this void following his 2022 move before injury troubles reared their head, while Kai Havertz tends to drop deeper when playing as a centre forward.
The same goes for former targets Isak and Sesko, both of whom are a tad taller than Gyokeres and use their physique differently, reports the Mirror.
Viktor Gyokeres (L), Martin Odegaard (C) and Ben White (R) of Arsenal look on during the Arsenal Open Training Session: Pre-Season Tour at Kai Tak Stadium
Arsenal have already started to implement a change of style(Image: Eurasia Sport Images, Getty Images)
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ESPN reported that Arsenal are set to tweak their attacking strategy to suit their latest star signing and will instruct players to push the ball forward as swiftly as possible to maximise their new number nine's potential.
It's believed that the club will need to tweak their style to accommodate Gyokeres.
Havertz, who mainly operated as a centre forward last season before an injury setback, often prefers to drop deep and link up play, but Gyokeres brings a different player profile to the table.
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The fresh recruit will be encouraged to exploit the space behind opposition centre-backs, a tactic that proved successful for him in Portugal.
This doesn't necessarily imply a shift towards long-ball tactics, but rather a focus on swift ball progression upfield.
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The immediate adjustments to suit Gyokeres highlight Arteta's confidence in him as they aim to break their title drought after several near misses in recent seasons.