Viktor Gyokeres wasted no time making his mark at the Emirates, opening his Arsenal account with a well-taken header in Saturday’s 3-0 pre-season win over Athletic Bilbao. The Swedish striker, signed to deliver the goals Mikel Arteta’s side have been missing, is already showing signs he can lead the line with authority in the iconic number 14 shirt.
That number carries heavy history in North London. It’s synonymous with Thierry Henry, Arsenal’s all-time great who redefined the Premier League striker role. Gyokeres will look to emulate many of Henry’s attacking qualities, but there’s one unusual shared trait between the pair – neither is known for scoring with their head.
Henry and Gyokeres: lethal finishers, rare headers
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Henry struck 175 Premier League goals, but only six came via his head. The majority: 136 with his right foot, 31 with his left, underline his preference for ground-based finishes. Gyokeres arrives with a similar profile. Across 102 games for Sporting CP, the 27-year-old scored just four headers.
Ironically, it was a header that got him off the mark in Arsenal colours, hinting he may add another dimension to his game in England. Whether that becomes a consistent weapon remains to be seen, but the early goal is a confidence booster ahead of the new season.
Arteta praises Gyokeres’ instincts
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Speaking post-match, Arteta emphasised the importance of Gyokeres opening his account early. “That first goal is always very important,” he said. “The way he took it as well, really well.”
On the striker’s natural hunger to score, the Arsenal boss added: “That’s his nature. Everything he does – his movement, timing, predicting the next move, finding space – that’s the instinct he has. That’s why he’s scored so many goals in the last few seasons. In any situation, there is a player there that can score a goal.”
Setting the tone for the season
Arsenal have lacked a consistent, out-and-out number nine in recent years. Gyokeres, with his physical presence and eye for goal, has the profile to change that. Whether he matches Henry’s legendary status is a question for the long term, but an opening strike in pre-season suggests he’s ready to hit the ground running.
The Gunners now head into the final stretch of their pre-season schedule with momentum – and with Gyokeres already looking the part in red and white.
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