Ordinary: Arsenal legend on how Gyokeres can be missing piece of Arteta’s puzzle

Arsenal and Viktor Gyokeres are each and each going to beget to adapt to one one more’s trend next season, but the Swede can add the “penetration” that the Gunners often lacked final length of time, Alan Smith has exclusively knowledgeable Sports Mole.

The North London giants could maybe reportedly conclude the long-awaited signing of the 27-yr-former this weekend, as they’ve finally reached an agreement with Carrying Lisbon over his switch again to England.

On Friday, Gyokeres and his agent had been filmed boarding a non-public jet certain for London, the place the former Coventry City striker will endure his medical and signal his long-length of time contract with Mikel Arteta‘s aspect.

Gyokeres has become critical for his counter-attacking prowess, whereas Arsenal unsuitable their assaults on patient make-up, and Gunners legend Smith believes that each and each membership and participant could maybe beget to construct limited adjustments to their trend.

“It swings each and each ways really,” Smith said. “He goes to beget to adapt, but I contemplate the crew’s going to beget to adapt as effectively to Gyokeres’s trend.

Smith backs Arsenal and Gyokeres for “happy marriage” after switch

“There might not be as much space to run into when he’s playing against opponents who are defending a bit deeper than they would in in Portugal, so it’ll be an adjustment for the player.”

However, when Gyokeres has settled into his new environment, Smith can image the Swede being the missing piece of the puzzle by bringing the “penetration” that his former membership had been every once in a while bereft of final season.

“Arsenal beget got to service him,” he added. “Realize what he likes, the passes he likes, earlier balls down the channels. So indispensable become once performed in front of defences final season, it got really frustrating.

“There wasn’t so much penetration. I think he can add that. But footballers adjust to what’s needed and top coaches do as well too, to the players that they’ve got. So hopefully it’ll be a happy marriage.”

Smith won two First Division titles in 1989 and 1991 in Arsenal colours, as well as taking home the Golden Boot in both seasons with 22 goals each time.

Meanwhile, Gyokeres found the back of the net on a remarkable 54 occasions in 52 games during the 2024-25 season for for Sporting, who will receive an upfront fee of £55.5m potentially rising to £64.2m in add-ons.

When might Gyokeres make his Arsenal debut?

As Gyokeres heads to the English capital, Arsenal are gearing up for the second game of their pre-season tour of Asia, which takes place against Newcastle United on Sunday.

Even if Gyokeres completes his medical and the formalities of his transfer on Saturday, the turnaround will still be far too tight for him to jet off to Singapore in time for an appearance against the Magpies.

However, Arteta has confirmed that he would like any more new signings to join up with the squad on tour, so it is very possible that Gyokeres could make his unofficial Arsenal debut against none other than Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong on July 31.

The 27-year-old will become Arsenal’s sixth signing of the summer after Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Cristhian Mosquera, the latter of whom was confirmed as a Gunners player on Thursday.

Alan Smith was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of William Hill.

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