Cristiano Ronaldo sums up Gyokeres in two words after watching him play for Arsenal

The Gunners had been actively searching for a striker this summer, with both Benjamin Šeško and Gyökeres on their radar.

Sfter lengthy talks with Sporting CP, Arsenal opted to go all-in on the Swedish frontman, eventually sealing a deal with the Portuguese giants.

Manchester United were also in the mix for Gyökeres, hoping to reunite him with former Sporting manager Ruben Amorim. However, they shifted focus and secured Šeško from RB Leipzig instead.

Gyökeres, 27, was a dominant force during his spell at Sporting, netting an impressive 68 goals in league play over two seasons — a record that convinced Arsenal to invest heavily in his arrival.

Following Al Nassr’s 4-0 pre-season win over Rio Ave, in which Ronaldo bagged a hat-trick, the Portugal captain took a moment to heap praise on Gyökeres.

His admiration for the striker was clear, and his brief but powerful endorsement only adds to the excitement surrounding Arsenal’s new signing.

Ronaldo, who recently made headlines for gifting a lavish engagement ring to longtime partner Georgina Rodriguez, continues to command attention both on and off the pitch — and his nod to Gyökeres will surely fuel anticipation among Gunners fans ahead of the new season.

Speaking to reporters after the win, Ronaldo on the league and Gyokeres, as quoted by GOAL, said: “I hope it’s a competitive league. I always hope for the best and that Sporting can be champions again.

“Gyokeres? We only miss those who are there, that’s what they say. I believe Sporting will be competitive.

“Gyokeres was a special player, but the team will have to adapt. I believe Suárez, who arrived from Almeria, is an excellent forward. Harder is also a good player, young, and needs time.

“I saw the Super Cup; Sporting performed well against Benfica, but they didn’t win because they couldn’t – that’s football.”

Ronaldo’s praise for Gyökeres will have struck a chord with Arsenal fans, who are eager to see their team lift more trophies under Mikel Arteta in the upcoming season.

After finishing runners-up in the Premier League for three consecutive years, the Gunners faithful are hoping this will finally be the season their club takes center stage — no longer playing second fiddle.

Arsenal have been busy reshaping their squad this summer. They’ve brought in Kepa as cover for David Raya, strengthened their defense with Cristhian Mosquera, reinforced midfield options by signing Martin Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard, and landed Gyökeres to lead the line.

Noni Madueke has also swapped Chelsea blue for Arsenal red in a notable transfer.

As the north London side gears up to challenge heavyweights like Manchester City and Liverpool for the title, they’re still looking to add more firepower — with Eberechi Eze now in their sights.

But they’re not alone in that pursuit. Tottenham have re-entered the race for the Crystal Palace playmaker, especially now that James Maddison is sidelined with an ACL injury, intensifying the battle for Eze’s signature.