The Swedish striker was officially unveiled by the Gunners on Saturday after completing a blockbuster £64 million move from Sporting CP, signing a five-year deal. ..Continue Reading
His arrival has sparked major excitement, especially given his staggering record of 97 goals in 102 appearances for the Portuguese side.
Arsenal have been crying out for a top-tier centre-forward, with many analysts pointing to their lack of cutting edge as the key reason they’ve fallen short in recent title challenges under Mikel Arteta.
According to The Athletic, Gyokeres has smashed Arsenal’s shirt sales record — all before making his debut.
The 27-year-old has taken on the iconic No.14 jersey, once worn by club legend Thierry Henry, adding even more buzz around his signing.
Exact figures haven’t been disclosed, but early data confirms his shirt has outsold any previous Arsenal signing in club history.
Gyokeres is expected to make his first appearance for the Gunners this Thursday in Hong Kong, where Arsenal will face off against fierce rivals Tottenham in a pre-season showdown.
Speaking after his transfer move to Arsenal was announced, Gyokeres told Arsenal’s website: ‘I always want to score.
‘To be a part of this club and to score in this kit and with this badge in front of all the supporters, I can’t wait. It will be an amazing feeling.
‘I started here [in England], it feels like a long time ago. I think I’ve improved a lot since then. Now I want to prove myself for real and perform together with the team.
‘When I played at Sporting, I scored a few goals in the Champions League so I feel that I can be on that level as well.
‘Now to come here to a club on Arsenal’s level, I think it’s going to help me perform even better with all the amazing players in this team. I’m really excited to get going.
‘I just felt that it was the right club for me. What I heard from Mikel and Andrea when I was speaking with them, and just what I’ve seen in the past years, how they’ve been playing football.
‘When I was playing against Arsenal last season, I could really feel it was a very strong team and very difficult to play against.
‘That made me choose Arsenal, and of course all the history the club has and the massive fanbase. It’s been amazing to see all the support that they have already given me before I even arrived. That’s what it’s all about. It’s going to be very nice to see them in the stadiums as well.’
