Arsene Wenger let him leave Arsenal for free and he ended up playing alongside Viktor Gyokeres

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Arsenal are closing in on finally ending their search for a striker.

Viktor Gyokeres is ready to join Arsenal and the Swedish striker is even willing to sacrifice some of his salary in order to get a move to the Emirates Stadium over the line.

Mikel Arteta wants Gyokeres signed before pre-season so that his new addition can use the tour to Asia to become accustomed with his new Arsenal teammates and Arteta’s style of play.

Gyokeres has played in England before with the likes of Brighton and Coventry but has also landed in some unusual places during his career.

One career path brought him alongside a former Gunner who made just seven appearances under Arsene Wenger.

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Viktor Gyokeres played with Ryo Miyaichi at St Pauli

Gyokeres had a slow start to his career and has learned his trade at a variety of clubs around the world. Bought by Brighton in 2018 from Swedish side Brommapojkarna, he then moved to Germany with St Pauli.

It was there that the 27-year-old played 22 games alongside former Arsenal man Ryo Miyaichi who was released for free by Wenger back in 2015.

Miyaichi featured seven times for the Gunners, failing to register a goal or assist and had several loan spells with Premier League sides Bolton and Wigan.

In Germany, Gyokeres and Miyaichi were in the same starting eleven on 22 occasions and brought three goal contributions between them.

Arteta will be hoping that wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli can provide Gyokeres with better service this campaign but the forward’s Arsenal connection runs deeper than first meets the eye.

Viktor Gyokeres has already played with Arsenal star Ben White

Ben White has played with Gyokeres during their time at Brighton and both spent time coming through the academy at the Seagulls.

Whilst they only managed 63 minutes on the same pitch for the first team, they played in numerous matches in the academy and reserve sides on the south coast.

Hale End product Brooke Norton-Cuffy also spent a period of time with the Swede at Coventry City in the Championship.

Norton-Cuffy now plays under Patrick Vieira at Genoa but featured on 24 occasions alongside the Gunners’ potential new number nine.