Mikel Arteta has pulled back the curtain on how one decisive phone call convinced him that Viktor Gyokeres was the perfect striker for Arsenal.
While many clubs lean heavily on data and scouting reports, for Arteta, it was the Swede’s reaction over the phone that clinched the deal.
Arsenal had initially explored signing Benjamin Sesko from Red Bull Leipzig, now set to face Manchester United on Sunday.
The 22-year-old was priced at a hefty £73 million.
Gyokeres, by contrast, was slightly cheaper at £63.5 million—but at 27, there were questions about whether he would offer long-term value.
Eyes Wide Open: Arteta’s Key Conversation
“The best data was my first phone call with him,” Arteta said, recalling the conversation.
“I told him the idea I had and just wanted to see his reaction.
I said, imagine yourself putting that shirt on, walking into a dressing room full of expectations. How do you handle it?”
Gyokeres’ response? Eyes wide open, full of excitement. “‘Pah! That’s my dream!’ he said.
And that, for me, was the most important data,” Arteta explained.
The manager stressed that while statistics are crucial, a striker must also handle the pressure and expectations of the Premier League.
“The other data I knew was how he would behave on the pitch—with security, dominance, and almost an arrogance to say, don’t worry, I will do it.
Now we have someone with a unique ability to put the ball in the back of the net.
He’s probably done that more than almost anyone in Europe in recent seasons.”
Filling the Gaps That Held Arsenal Back
Arsenal fans and critics alike have long called for reinforcements capable of taking the team from near misses to Premier League champions.
Arteta put last season’s shortcomings into perspective during an interview with Men In Blazers Network.
“A lot of things have to go right to finish second in the Premier League,” he said, “but what we missed was some top, top players.
Players we needed on the pitch to truly impact results.
For four or five months, we were missing them—and it wasn’t just one, it was four or five. That’s why we came up short.”
Arsenal Ready to Explode
With Gyokeres now on board, Arteta believes Arsenal is set for a thrilling season.
“The message to the team this time is that we are like a volcano, ready to explode.
We have everything there now, we are ready to go, and we need to play with that excitement,” he said.
Fans can expect a team bolstered by a proven goal scorer, ready to challenge for the top of the Premier League once again.
