Viktor Gyokeres finally signed for Arsenal last month after months of speculation, with the Gunners hierarchy eventually landing the centre forward they craved
13:13, 06 Aug 2025
The prospect of Viktor Gyokeres' arrival at Arsenal is said to have caused division
The prospect of Viktor Gyokeres' arrival at Arsenal is said to have caused division(Image: Getty Images)
Arsenal's capture of Viktor Gyokeres has come under scrutiny following suggestions that Mikel Arteta and senior figures at the club were divided over pursuing the striker.
The Gunners eventually secured the forward supporters had been clamouring for last month, with Gyokeres making the switch from Sporting CP in a deal that could reach £63.5million. The new arrival was instantly given the No. 14 jersey, prompting immediate parallels with Arsenal icon Thierry Henry.
Yet Jamie Carragher and Paul Scholes have both now indicated the transfer created friction within the club's hierarchy. During The Overlap Fan Debate, the duo claimed that newly-appointed sporting director Andrea Berta was the key figure pushing the move through, reports the Express.
Referencing a media report, Carragher explained: "What I thought was really interesting was James McNicholas from The Athletic did a piece when the signing was done, and he insinuated in the column that he wrote that he was more of a sporting director signing.
"The club were in for Benjamin Sesko for probably six months, and the new sporting director changed direction. I thought it was an interesting piece, as well as how that will affect Arteta going forward."
Viktor Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres is expected to bring goals galore at Arsenal(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Ex-Manchester United midfielder Scholes shared similar doubts, commenting: "Arsenal needed a centre forward, I just wonder if you've chosen the right one. Because there was a lot of um-ing and ah-ing about it.
"I wondered if Mikel Arteta really wanted him, as the main one he wants? I'm not too sure, and he's got him now.
"He's had a really strange career path, Brighton, Coventry, and then he's gone to Sporting Lisbon, but his goal record is absolutely brilliant, you can't take that away from him."
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Gyokeres, 27, netted an extraordinary 97 goals in 101 matches in Portugal. He's also found the back of the net 15 times for Sweden at international leve.
He is poised to make his competitive bow for the Gunners against Manchester United at Old Trafford on August 17.
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Following the completion of the transfer, Arteta revealed the striker's eagerness to join Arsenal was a key factor in convincing him to secure his signature.
Gyokeres rejected an offer from the Red Devils in favour of a switch to Arsenal, and refused to train with Sporting this summer while he hammered out his transfer.