Viktor Gyokeres to bring missing quality to Arsenal as £64.2m Sporting transfer nears completion

Arsenal and Viktor Gyokeres are both going to have to adapt to one another's style next season, but the Swede can add the "penetration" that the Gunners often lacked last term, Alan Smith has exclusively told Sports Mole.

The North London giants could reportedly close the long-awaited signing of the 27-year-old this weekend, as they have finally reached an agreement with Sporting Lisbon over his transfer back to England.

On Friday, Gyokeres and his agent were filmed boarding a private jet bound for London, where the former Coventry City striker will undergo his medical and sign his long-term contract with Mikel Arteta's side.

Gyokeres has become famed for his counter-attacking prowess, whereas Arsenal base their attacks on patient build-up, and Gunners legend Smith believes that both club and player will have to make small adjustments to their style.

“It swings both ways really," Smith said. "He's going to have to adapt, but I think the team's going to have to adapt as well to Gyokeres’s style.

Smith backs Arsenal and Gyokeres for "happy marriage" after transfer

"There might not be as much space to run into when he's playing against opponents who are defending a bit deeper than they would in in Portugal, so it'll be an adjustment for the player."

However, when Gyokeres has settled into his new surroundings, Smith can picture the Swede being the missing piece of the puzzle by bringing the "penetration" that his former club were sometimes bereft of last season.

“Arsenal have got to service him," he added. "Understand what he likes, the passes he likes, earlier balls down the channels. So much was played in front of defences last season, it got really frustrating.

"There wasn't so much penetration. I think he can add that. But footballers adjust to what’s needed and top coaches do as well too, to the players that they've got. So hopefully it’ll be a happy marriage.”

Smith won two First Division titles in 1989 and 1991 in Arsenal colours, as well as taking home the Golden Boot in both seasons with 22 goals each time.

Meanwhile, Gyokeres found the back of the net on a remarkable 54 occasions in 52 games during the 2024-25 season for for Sporting, who will receive an upfront fee of £55.5m potentially rising to £64.2m in add-ons.

When might Gyokeres make his Arsenal debut?

As Gyokeres heads to the English capital, Arsenal are gearing up for the second game of their pre-season tour of Asia, which takes place against Newcastle United on Sunday.

Even if Gyokeres completes his medical and the formalities of his transfer on Saturday, the turnaround will still be far too tight for him to jet off to Singapore in time for an appearance against the Magpies.

However, Arteta has confirmed that he would like any more new signings to join up with the squad on tour, so it is very possible that Gyokeres could make his unofficial Arsenal debut against none other than Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong on July 31.

The 27-year-old will become Arsenal's sixth signing of the summer after Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Cristhian Mosquera, the latter of whom was confirmed as a Gunners player on Thursday.

Alan Smith was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of William Hill.