Hong Kong – The weight of expectations in Viktor Gyökeres was already considerable before taking shirt No. 14 of Arsenal. That shirt was iconic by striker Thierry Henry, who scored 228 goals between 1999 and 2007 to publish a total of any other man who has coincidentally in the history of the club.
It could be said that the Gunners have not had a true elite striker since then. Robin van Persie (who carried No. 10 at the end of his career at Arsenal) had the whole class but fought to stay fit. Theo Walcott inherited Henry's No. 14 and kept it for an almost decade of growing frustration between the fans base, since the powers of the Manager of Long Data Arsène Wenger gradually decreased. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the last No. 14, Eddie Nketiah, both failed to finish the long wait for the club for a first premier League title since Henry & Co. won it in 2003-04 without losing a single game.
But after three consecutive finals of second place under coach Mikel Arteta, there is a general hope among fans that Gyökeres, the sixth summer acquisition of the Gunners, but undoubtedly the most anticipated, is the final piece in the puzzle, the stars firm recruited for an initial CP of € 63 million of the CP that makes them the runners into champions. No pressure.
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The shirt No. 10 was vacant, although a source suggested ESPN that it can be destined for someone else in the team. Gyökeres could have requested it to avoid Henry comparison. On the other hand, when he spoke with a small group of reporters gathered at the Rosewood hotel in Hong Kong on Wednesday, Gyökeres was not affected by the legacy of the number.
“It is not really my intention to be compared to what he has achieved in his career,” Gyökeres said. “Especially here. I just want to do my thing and show my qualities. Of course, he was an incredible player, but different from me. I just want to try to do my thing.
“Of course I know about the story. But to be honest, there were not so many numbers available. There were not too many to choose from. But, of course, that was available. Then, when I knew it was an easy choice to take it.”
Arteta was impressed with the mentality of her new striker. “I use the word 'conviction' and that is the first thing I noticed when I told him,” said Arsenal's head. “Someone very determined, someone who was already really attached to the club of the way I was talking about the club, the story and, in this case, Thierry and what represented the shirt. He felt it immediately. And when you feel it, do it.”
Although the waiting for Gyökeres transfer to end would feel endless for many after the saga, with the framework of an agreement agreed before the negotiations stagnate by the nature of the accessories, the 27 -year -old was not immune to the situation. After refusing to report Sporting for preseason training, Gyökeres trained only when Arsenal pressed to reach an agreement.
The sources told ESPN that his agent resigned from a rate of 6.3 million euros to help close the gap between clubs, and only during the arsenal preseason tour of Asia was a significant advance when the Gunners agreed more triggers for performance -related accessories. As late as the night before the agreement, it was confirmed on July 26, the sources said the senior figures in the Arsenal sweat the details to ensure that everything was over.
“I tried to train as much as possible and keep the day in motion,” Gyökeres said. “Many days were the same type of routine. I woke up, trained, dinner and then went to bed again. It was like that for a few weeks, but it was worth it.
“It has been a new experience. I have not really been in that situation before. It has been a lot of waiting on my side. I wanted to come here, but it was not so easy. But I am finally here and it feels great.”
Manchester United was linked to the interest in a stage, especially after the transfer of Ruben Amorim from Sporting to Old Trafford at the end of last year. Such were the ridiculous Gyökeres punctuation numbers during his two winning seasons in Lisbon, 97 goals in 102 games, which was linked to a large number of clubs throughout Europe.
“I think you can always have a decision [over] Your future, “Gyökeres said.” Of course there were also other clubs, but I didn't feel that it was a difficult choice for me this time. “
However, there are some doubts about how well this form of score of the first Portuguese league will be translated. The Premier League, and competing on four fronts for 10 months of the year, will demand more of it and will come with higher levels of scrutiny.
During an open training session at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong later on Wednesday, his image on the big screen attracted the greatest applause of around 20,000 fans who attended, along with Max Dowman, 15, and the goals he scored for several drills, which were numerous, received enthusiastic applause. There will be no hiding place.
When Gyökeres was given that Darwin Núñez arrived from Portugal with a great reputation for a great Benfica rate to Liverpool in 2022 only to fight, he said: “I think I will have to adapt. But I think there are many players from Portugal who have made even better in England. It depends on who chooses.”
“I think it is difficult to compare one player with another. And how they work in a different league. Because there are many different factors. Not only a better league. If you play in a better team too, it makes it easier. Especially if you are an attacking player. Therefore, we will have to see.
“I think I have enough expectations about me. I will only try to act anyway, to be honest, just to move forward in the way I have been doing recent years. Just trying to improve so well in the field. Try to help the team as much as I can.”
Arsenal Martin Ødegaard captain has been impressed with what he has seen. A source close to Ødegaard told ESPN that time with Gyökeres outside the field shortly after his arrival in Hong Kong, trying to help him adapt.
“With the language and everything that is a little easier for me to help him,” said Ødegaard. “We can speak our own language. And the Scandinavians always join together, that way it has been really natural.
“All new players, we always try to help them in the best possible way. That is what I felt when I came here, I felt at home immediately and I felt how good the culture and the environment and culture are.
“Everyone just wants to help you and get the best of you. It is important that you do things from the field and that is what we all do. We are there to help and so far I think it is having a good time.
“You have all seen what you have done in your career so far and especially the last season in Sporting, the numbers speak for themselves. But he is a very complete player, he is physical, strong, fast, good finalist and intelligent, like this. quality
Perhaps the English football experience in Brighton & Hove Albion (2018-2021), Swansea City (2020-21, on loan) and Coventry City (2021-2023), although outside the Premier League, will help Gyökes in their adaptation.
“It makes it easier,” he said. “I am used to the weather and everything I have been in England before for a few years. So some aspects I think they help. But, of course, there are also many new things. A new group, a new idea of playing. I think I need to adapt to that too.”
While accommodating his new life as a Arsenal player and prepares for his first completion with the team in Thursday's friendly against Tottenham Hotspur, Gyökeres is, at least for now, a man of relatively few words, perfectly educated but laconic instead of Locouaz. After a difficult summer and a delayed arrival at his new club, he was asked if he would be ready for the first Premier League game, at Manchester United on August 17.
“Yes,” he said, briefly thinking if adding something else. He left it there, with the mentality of a man ready to carry everything easy.