He arrives with a reputation for a goal machine and the legendary number 14 on the back. But the first steps in Arsenal are more like a way of the cross than a honeymoon.
He thought he had done the hardest. Forcing his departure from the Sporting, drying training, all that to realize his dream: to sign at Arsenal. Viktor Gyökeres arrived in London with a suitcase full of goals (97 in 102 games in Portugal) and the label of the Savior, the one who was finally going to solve the problem of the advanced attacker. But the Swedish is discovering, in the most brutal of the ways, the difference between the Portuguese championship and the boiling pot of a top club of Premier League. His first friendly outings were shy. The supporters' reaction was just the opposite.
Two games, 16 touched balls, and an avalanche of criticism
The accounting assessment is starry and is cold in the back. A handful of minutes against Tottenham for two small affected balls. A 62 -minute tenure against Villarreal for 14 balloons and two shots. That's it. For a recruit at more than 70 million euros, it is little. Too little for fans who do not have the patience to wait. On social networks, the trial has already taken place. “Panic buy”, “does not correspond to the style of Arteta”, “Not physical enough”, Critics are raining.
Some already compare it to fiasco Nicolas Pépé, Another overpriced recruit that has never been able to impose itself.
The Swedish has become in the space of two games the new Turkish head of the supporters. A symbol of doubts surrounding the arsenal transfer window. The contrast is violent. In Sporting, he was an adulated god. In Arsenal, he is a simple soldier who has to prove himself, and quickly. We know the song. Credit a new recruit, even at this price, is close to zero.
Arteta defends Gyokeres, but the evil is done
Mikel Arteta tried to calm the game. The coach spoke of fatigue, a lack of preparation, a team that must relearn how to play with a real number 9. “We forgot that we had a center-forward”he even admitted. Logical words, full of common sense. But they come up against the ruthless reality of modern football. The first impression is often the one that remains. And that left by Gyökeres is for the moment very far from expectations.
It is only pre-season, of course. It would be ridiculous to bury it after less than 90 minutes of play. But this failed departure is a warning. Gyökeres has just understood that in Arsenal, he will have no state of grace. Each match, each ball, each missed opportunity will be dissected, judged, commented.
He wanted the pressure of a big club, he is served. The season has not even started, but for him, the most important match has already started: the one to conquer the heart, and especially the patience, of the supporters of the Gunners.
