Viktor Gyökeres Reveals Why He Picked Arsenal Over Other Top Clubs

Arsenal fans finally have a new No. 9 to cheer for, as Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres has officially joined the Gunners — and he's already made it clear that this move was deeply personal.

The 26-year-old forward, who had a stellar season with Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, said he turned down several top European clubs because Arsenal felt like the perfect fit.

“There were more clubs involved, but I wanted to come here to Arsenal,” Gyökeres told the club’s official website after completing his move. “It’s the best club for me.”

The transfer, confirmed on Saturday after the striker passed his medical at the Emirates, wasn’t without drama. Reports suggest Gyökeres pushed hard behind the scenes for the deal to happen, even as negotiations grew tense.

“It wasn’t an easy deal,” he admitted. “Some people spoke to the media all the time… they thought they were protecting the interest of the club.”

Arsenal’s pursuit of a top striker has been ongoing for months. Last season, despite a strong title push, the lack of a true centre-forward was seen as one of the key reasons they fell just short, losing out to Liverpool in the final weeks of the campaign.

Enter Gyökeres — a powerful, clinical striker who scored 29 goals and provided 9 assists in all competitions last season. His physicality, work rate, and eye for goal are expected to add a much-needed edge to Arsenal’s attack.

In a move that’s bound to excite fans, Gyökeres will wear the iconic number 14 shirt — a number once made legendary by club icon Thierry Henry.

With pre-season behind them and the new campaign approaching fast, Arsenal supporters will be hoping Gyökeres can deliver the goals needed to go one better this time around. If his form in Portugal is anything to go by, the Gunners may have finally found their missing piece.