“When we analyse his season, it is going to be defined in the last seven or eight weeks,” said Arteta. “That is clear.”
Arteta’s point was that Gyokeres was signed for the decisive moments of the campaign, and that his season can only be judged after the trophies are decided. After all, who would care about his missed chances against Kairat Almaty in January, or his poor hold-up play against Brighton in March, if he delivers the match-winning goals and performances in May?
Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres crashes into Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Mikel Arteta thrilled as Arsenal ‘make history together’
In the past week, it seems that Gyokeres has taken Arteta’s words to heart. This is the time to prove himself and he is, at last, doing just that. Last week, away to Atlético Madrid, he led the line impressively and scored a penalty. On Saturday, at home to Fulham, he scored twice and assisted Bukayo Saka. And here, at home in the second leg of this Champions League semi-final, he produced perhaps his best all-round performance in an Arsenal shirt.
How quickly a player’s standing can change at a club like Arsenal, and indeed at a point in the season like this. In crucial matches against Manchester City and Newcastle United last month, Gyokeres was dropped from the starting lineup in favour of Kai Havertz. If Havertz had not picked up an injury, Gyokeres might not have started again this season. Now, just three games later, he suddenly appears to be the most confident attacker in Arteta’s squad.
In the Premier League, Gyokeres has too often struggled in the physical battles against powerful centre-backs. Against Atlético’s back four, though, he was the dominant force. Whether the ball was on the floor or in the air, it belonged to Gyokeres. He was stronger, faster and simply more determined than his opponents.
“He was immense,” said Arteta. “You can see the reaction from the crowd every time he had the ball. His work rate and what he’s giving the team is just incredible. He’s the first one to set the tone, the rhythm, and the habits that he shows when we don’t have the ball.”
Atletico Madrid's Marc Pubill wrestles with Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres during the Champions League semi-final, second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
The Emirates Stadium crowd, which also produced comfortably its best performance of the campaign, responded with extraordinary noise to every run and touch by the burly Swede. When he won a corner after darting down the left wing in the first half, the home supporters cheered him with the same vigour as if he had scored.
Gyokeres did not find the net on this occasion but he did play a key role in Arsenal’s winning goal. It was his run, and his subsequent cross, that ultimately led to Saka’s close-range finish. No other player in Arsenal’s frontline would have charged behind the opposition’s defence in such a way, stretching the game and opening up the pitch.
Clearly, there are still many flaws in Gyokeres’ game. His touch is far from silky, his movement far from smooth. Until these last three matches, he had never been able to build a strong on-pitch relationship with his fellow attackers.
But none of that will be remembered if he continues his current run of form. Arsenal agreed to pay up to £64m for him because they regarded him as the ultimate “win-now” striker, rather than a project for the future.
With 21 goals in all competitions, and a Premier League title and Champions League success within his grasp, he is increasingly close to justifying that investment. Glory awaits, for him and Arsenal.
As Arsenal’s players and supporters enjoyed delirious celebrations former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney was quick to accuse the Gunners of over-celebrating, saying on Amazon: “They deserve to be in this position but they haven’t won it yet. I think the celebrations are a little bit too much. Celebrate when you win.”
In a video posted on social media, Wright said: “Arsenal fans, let me tell you something: enjoy this. The celebration police will be out in force, do not get nicked! Enjoy yourselves, football’s about moments and this is a big moment. Enjoy it and let’s hope that in the final and after the final we have another massive moment. It’s a great day!”
Arsène Wenger, the former Arsenal manager, told BeIn Sport: “They celebrate well tonight − that is normal, but you want more for them to focus on the final already and the next game. The celebration is deserved, happiness is absolutely normal, but now the next step is to go to the final and win it.”
Meanwhile Mikel Arteta hailed “special” Bukayo Saka as the perfect match-winner for Arsenal, after the academy graduate once again produced the decisive moment for his side.
Saka’s winner against Atlético took Arsenal to their first Champions League in two decades and further established the winger as his team’s most important attacking player.
Saka has played more games than anyone for Arteta since the Spaniard’s appointment in 2019, and the Arsenal manager said: “It had to be someone very special and certainly he is very special, with me and the boys and everyone attached with this club. If it had to be someone scoring that goal, it probably had to be him.”
The 24-year-old described it as a “beautiful” story and said he had “never seen anything like” the atmosphere produced by the home supporters at a raucous Emirates Stadium.
The intensity of the occasion evidently affected Atlético head coach Diego Simeone, who clashed with Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta on the touchline at the final whistle.
Berta, who spent more than a decade working with Simeone at Atlético, went to the side of the pitch in stoppage time and could be seen frantically urging the referee to blow the whistle for full time. Simeone marched over to him angrily and appeared to raise his arms to Berta’s chest in an attempt to push him away.