Mikel Arteta reveals when Arsenal made striker their ‘main candidate’

Mikel Arteta has revealed that Arsenal identified Viktor Gyokeres as their primary striker target in December 2024, following Kai Havertz’s injury concerns that prompted a reassessment of the club’s attacking options.

The Arsenal manager disclosed that while Gyokeres had been monitored for years, the Sporting CP forward became the Gunners’ “main candidate” during a crucial period when the north London side evaluated their frontline needs.

December turning point

Speaking about the timeline of Arsenal’s interest, Arteta explained: “Well, he’s been on our radar for years but the most recent moment when we really looked at it as one of the top targets was around December of last year [2024], when we started to really think about, especially with the issue that we had with Kai [injury], what we have to do in our front line and he became one of the main candidates and then the main candidate to be part of our club.”

The timing coincides with a period when Arsenal were assessing their attacking depth, particularly given Havertz’s fitness issues that emerged during the winter months.

Season expectations

When asked about his expectations for Gyokeres’ debut campaign, Arteta remained measured in his assessment. The Spanish coach suggested that any evaluation of the Swedish striker’s impact would need to wait until the business end of the season.

“I think it’s where he is and how successful this season is going to be for us and when we analyse his season, it’s going to be defined in the last seven or eight weeks of the season, that’s clear,” Arteta stated.

This measured approach reflects Arteta’s understanding that new signings often need time to adapt to the Premier League’s demands, particularly during the crucial final months when titles and European qualification are decided.

Gyokeres arrived at Arsenal with an impressive goal-scoring record from his time in Portugal, where he established himself as one of Europe’s most prolific forwards. His physical presence and clinical finishing were seen as ideal attributes to complement Arsenal’s existing attacking options.

The revelation that Arsenal had tracked the striker for years before making their move demonstrates the club’s long-term planning approach under Arteta’s management. The decision to accelerate their interest in December suggests the coaching staff recognised an immediate need to strengthen their attacking depth.

With Arsenal competing across multiple competitions this season, Gyokeres’ integration into Arteta’s system will be closely monitored as the campaign reaches its decisive stages. The manager’s emphasis on the final weeks indicates he views this period as the true test of the striker’s impact on the club’s ambitions.