Arsenal files: Transfer target Viktor Gyokeres gives rare look into life at Sporting and Gunners face goalkeeper dilemma

The Irish Sun

16 hours ago

ARSENAL fans are confident they know all about Viktor Gyokeres – the Sporting Lisbon superstar heavily linked to a £60m move to North London this summer.
But in a rare, in-depth interview with
Vogue
Scandinavia this week, the Swedish goal-scoring machine let his mask down and revealed some interesting behind-the-scenes titbits.
Advertisement
9
Arsenal are eyeing Viktor Gyokeres this summer
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
9
Gyokeres has won two titles with Sporting in the last two years
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
His Lisbon home – in the quiet enclave of Charneca de Caparica – is described as a 'lair', one with 'Scandinavian minimalism', featuring glass walls and a backyard
pool
.
The ground floor's main decoration includes numerous trophies below a large black and white photograph of
He explained: 'Me and my friends were going on vacation, and we were talking about [what to do when I score]. One of them came up with the idea for the mask, and we all liked it.
'Since then, I've always done it when I score ... and it definitely stuck. As for the [Bane] character, of course, I've seen it. But it's a little like, take it how you want it.
Advertisement
READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
'If you think it's Bane, you can think that. If you think it's something else, that's fine too.'
His daily routine includes taking a shot of ginger and some water, and his breakfast is usually an array of fruit [strawberries, blueberries and pomegranates] and three eggs.
Gyokeres also admits he sets his alarm '10-15 minutes before I leave' because he values
sleep
.
In terms of how he has built himself into the monstrous No.9 he is today, compared to the skinny kid that struggled at Brighton before banging in goals at
Advertisement
Most read in Football
Exclusive
9
Swedish football's pride and glory was on the cover of Vogue this week
9
Gyokeres has pictures of his 'Bane mask' celebration in his house
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plus
in-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates
'I do my pull-ups, push-ups, and sometimes shoulder press. Sometimes after a game where I need to rest my legs. I can focus on the upper body.
Advertisement
'I can do my exercises at home, which is why I have a gym here. That's what I enjoy on a daily basis.'
Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over plot to smuggle £600k of cannabis into UK
Home from training by 4pm, he then likes to nap for an hour before having a Portuguese speaking lesson or taking his mind off football by playing some Call of Duty.
To let his
hair
down, he heads out for dinner in Lisbon. He explained: 'With Swedish culture, I think people work hard during the week, and then if they want to do something, they do it on weekends.
'Here, people enjoy the weekdays too. They see their friends on a Monday or whatever day, have dinner, a glass of
wine
. In Sweden, that's rare. That's the big difference.'
Advertisement
Despite his expectation to leave
England
in the coming weeks, with the Gunners in pole position, he does suggest: 'I think Lisbon has to be one of the best cities in
Europe
... it feels like home.'
And intent on not giving anything away about his
future
, he added about the speculation: 'That's just
clickbait
. Sports
news
is now constant, like 24/7, so they just find things to talk about.'
9
However, he goes on to suggest he has always 'dreamed' of 'being on the best teams in the world', even if he reveals that as a kid, it took him time to fall in love with
football
.
Advertisement
He said: 'I didn't like football at first [as a six-year-old] because I was on a team with people I didn't know. I was new, and I wasn't comfortable with that.
'It was more the social aspect that was hard rather than the football itself.
'Of course, when you're younger – 10, 11, 12 – you're always talking with your friends about playing for this club or that club, dreaming about being on the best teams in the world.
'But that was all talk. Of course, you want to do it, but at that age, you don't really think it through. It's more of a dream.
Advertisement
I didn't like football as a six-year-old because I was on a team with people I didn't know.
Gyokeres
Vogue
He added: 'Playing
football
in front of people – it's just something I'm so focused on. Of course you think about it sometimes, but for me, it's easy.'
Meanwhile, he has pulled out of Sweden's upcoming fixtures against
future
move.
But Sweden boss
'I was happy just to see him and have him involved in our meetings. That says a lot about Viktor, how much he wants to be involved.'
Advertisement
ZUBIMENDI WATCH
There was a rare glimpse into the
future
on Thursday night, watching a current
future
one.
In Spain's dramatic 5-4 Nations League semi-final victory over
next
to Martin Zubimendi – who is expected to officially be announced as a Gunners following his £51m move from Real Sociedad at some point
next
week.
Merino – who arrived in North
London
last
summer
from Sociedad for around £32m – played as a No.8 on the left of the midfield three, while Zubimendi sat deep as a No.6.
It was an intriguing watch, giving several examples of exactly how the two can compliment each other in an
next
season.
Advertisement
For large parts, Zubimendi, 26, sat deep in front of the back four, happy to be under pressure with his back to the opposition, taking balls off the two centre backs on the turn and feeding the likes of Merino and
Pedri
.
9
Inside the opening few minutes, Zubimendi did just that for Merino, allowing him to drive forward into space and spark an attack, something
And when the ball was lost, with Merino triggering the press, Zubimendi would not be far behind him, not afraid to put his body on the line to break up play.
Advertisement
He did just that in the first half to leave Les Bleus star
The Spanish media wrote: 'When Merino advanced his position and
Pedri
approached him, that's when [Zubimendi] brought out his full potential.
'The midfielder is in an ungrateful position because he has to take out the dirty balls so that the one who passes close to him can take the clean balls. But he does that very well.'
But it is not just the dirty work that Zubimendi thrives in. At times against
Arsenal
target
.
Advertisement
You could not help but imagine Zubimendi doing the same for Bukayo Saka down the right, something the
KEPA OR GARCIA?
Among other areas in the squad,
With
Neto
heading back to Bournemouth following his season-long loan last term – making just one appearance –
There are candidates from within: 16-year-old Jack Porter and 18-year-old Tommy Setford both made their senior debuts in the Carabao Cup last season.
Advertisement
However, Arteta does not feel either are ready to take on such a big responsibility
next
campaign, while Setford could potentially head out on loan to gain some experience should the right opportunity arise, after joining from
9
Unwanted Chelsea stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga has been lined with Arsenal
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
It is understood that Setford is highly rated by Arteta, viewing him as a first-team player of the
future
.
So, where does that leave them now? It is quite similar to their
striker
conundrum, currently deliberating whether to go for a ready-made, older Gyokeres, or pay more
money
to acquire a younger star with potential who can grow in
Advertisement
There are two options as it stands: First there is Joan Garcia, the £25m
Espanyol
keeper, but it will be a battle to sign the 24-year-old with
And then there is a new possibility of Kepa, 30 – the unwanted
Arteta would welcome such an experienced goalie to compete with Raya, and is understood to have always admired the Spaniard from afar for his ability to play out with his feet.
GABRIEL AND SALIBA'S FEAR FACTOR
Brazilian centre back Gabriel, 27, has finally
Advertisement
SunSport understands that there is no option to extend that until 2030 as it stands, but he will now earn a weekly wage north of £100k.
9
Gabriel has put pen to paper on a new contract
It is the first of many new deals that sporting director Andrea Berta has been working on. The likes of Saka and
next
, as well as Hale End graduates
Interestingly, Gabriel has revealed just how feared he and his centre back partner Saliba are in the Prem, forming a bond that has made them a world class duo, perhaps the best in
Europe
.
Advertisement
He said: 'I play against some strikers now and afterwards they say: 'you are so strong now, you and Saliba are so good together' and things like that, so it's good to hear.
'That's what we are aiming for on the pitch, we want to keep improving and we want to win trophies.'
9