How did Viktor Gyokeres fair on potential Arsenal audition?

Mikel Arteta was reluctant to wax lyrical over Viktor Gyokeres in the build-up to Arsenal's Champions League tie with Sporting CP on Tuesday night.

When asked whether the Swedish international was 'exactly what a modern-day centre forward looks like, Arteta replied: "I understand the question but they have a lot of individual qualities. That’s why they can win games in various ways. And yes in the specific position they have great players."

The Spaniard was full of praise for Sporting as a collective, who headed into Tuesday's bout having failed to taste defeat on home soil in 18 months. They're the Portuguese champions and were unbeaten in 2024/25 before the Gunners came to town. That's what rendered Arsenal's 5-1 thumping so impressive.

Crucial to their victory was their shunning of Sporting's imperious marksman.

How did Viktor Gyokeres fair on potential Arsenal audition?

Gyokeres has scored at nothing short of a frightening rate in Lisbon. Before Tuesday's bout, the former Coventry forward had netted 67 times in 69 games. He'd recorded hat-tricks in three of his previous five appearances for club and country, one of which arrived against Manchester City on Matchday 4 of the league phase, leaving Sporting second in the Champions League table.

His remarkable form has unsurprisingly piqued the interests of Europe's elite, and there's no doubt that transfer talk involving the Swede will be rife next year. Arsenal are reportedly among those keen on the 26-year-old hitman, so Tuesday's fixture was perhaps an audition for the forward, who faced up against one of the continent's fiercest centre-back partnerships.

Gyokeres quickly understood his assignment. Arsenal's tandem was unlike anything he's encountered before. Arteta showed respect to the Sporting striker by often having both William Saliba and Gabriel marshalling his withdrawals from a centre-forward position and darts into a channel. Very rarely was he left one-on-one.

A suffocating Arsenal press initially stifled Gyokeres. Sporting couldn't get out in the opening exchanges, with the 26-year-old limited to hopeful clips in behind to run onto and unwanted passes into his feet/thigh/chest while Gabriel or Saliba mopped up from behind.

Saliba was able to match Gyokeres stride for stride in the channels, with the Frenchman also timing his aggressive lunges superbly when the striker attempted to retain possession with his back to goal or combine with his playmakers between the lines. Gabriel opted for close contract in his personal bid to slow down Gyokeres, and a combination of the Brazilian's wide frame and physicality with Saliba's seamless speed meant the striker was huffing and puffing for the most part. In dribbling situations, he particularly struggled, completing just two of eight attempted take-ons.

Overall, there was a slap-dash feel to Gyokeres' performance. Actions seemed rush and there was an abundance of chaos. His wild free-kick at 3-1 summed up his display, which did improve as the contest wore on.

I understand why Gyokeres scores as many goals as he does. He's utterly relentless and never ceases in his bid to dominate the channels. His first victory over Saliba didn't arrive until the 85th minute, and he subsequently breezed past Jakub Kiwior before hitting the woodwork.

The Swede is unrefined but a phenomenal outlet. He has an insatiable appetite for goals. We've seen many centre-forwards, including Erling Haaland on multiple occasions, struggle against this excellent Arsenal centre-back pairing that would've been motivated to quieten the noise surrounding the perpetually hyped striker.

Saliba and Gabriel tamed him, but Gyokeres was still able to produce moments that made you sit back and say: "Ah, that's why."

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