Viktor Gyokeres can follow in Thierry Henry’s footsteps at Arsenal if Mikel Arteta gives him one thing

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal’s search for a new striker has finally come to an end, as Andrea Berta has agreed a deal with Sporting CP to sign Viktor Gyokeres.

The Gunners have been linked with numerous centre-forwards this summer, including the likes of Ollie Watkins, Benjamin Sesko and Hugo Ekitike.

Berta has finally settled on Gyokeres, with the Swedish number nine now expected to arrive in North London in the coming days for a fee in the region of £63 million.

Arsenal will pay £55 million up front, with £8 million in performance-related add-ons also included in the deal.

Mikel Arteta will hope to have Gyokeres on the plane to Singapore for the Gunners’ pre-season tour, which commences later this week.

• READ MORE: Confirmed Arsenal summer 2025 transfer ins and outs, signings and done deals

Arsenal should give Viktor Gyokeres the number 14 shirt

Gyokeres is reportedly set to travel to London to complete his Arsenal medical and various other formalities.

An announcement is expected later this week, before the Gunners jet off to Southeast Asia.

A detail that will need to be sorted out upon the 27-year-old’s arrival in N5 is what shirt number he’ll wear at the Emirates.

Gyokeres has worn the number nine shirt at Sporting, although this is currently occupied by Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal, meaning he won’t be able to take this iconic striker number.

He wore 17 at Coventry City, which is expected to become vacant at the end of the summer, with current holder Oleksandr Zinchenko likely to leave Islington.

• READ MORE: When Arsenal could now announce Cristhian Mosquera signing after £17m transfer agreed and medical booked

However, no outgoing deal for Zinchenko is imminent, and given Gyokeres will sign in the coming days, he’ll likely have to look elsewhere for a shirt number.

While the number ten is available, Arteta and Arsenal should offer the Sweden international the number 14 shirt, famously worn by the legendary Gunners figure Thierry Henry.

The number 14 is seen as prestigious at the Emirates because of Henry’s legacy, and wearing such a celebrated shirt will not only allow the Arsenal faithful to resonate with Gyokeres more quickly, but also give him a confidence boost in what will be a tough period of adaptation to a more challenging league.

It’s pivotal for Arsenal that Gyokeres hits the ground running, and this minor detail may give him a small marginal gain in helping him do so.

Gyokeres coincidentally wore the number 14 shirt on loan at Swansea City in the 2020/21 season.

Viktor Gyokeres shares some similarities to Thierry Henry

While Gyokeres has some way to go before being mentioned in the same bracket as Henry, he does possess some similarities to the Frenchman at his best.

The ex-Brighton man is similarly quick and strikes the ball with power and pace from all different angles, like his prodigious counterpart did.

Henry liked to peel off into the wide channels and drive at the opposition backline, which is a staple feature of Gyokeres’ game.

The imminent new Arsenal signing has also produced an astounding goal-scoring record in recent seasons, which is, of course, something Henry also boasted.

Gyokeres is yet to prove himself at the highest level, but he now has the opportunity to follow in Henry’s footsteps and lead the Gunners to glory.