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In the event that Viktor Gyökeres goes on to become the forward that each Arsenal supporters have been hoping for, then maybe they will recall this night as the point his destiny changed. In keeping with the timeless attacker’s creed, it doesn’t matter how they hit the back of the net.

Following a streak of nine matches for Arsenal and Sweden without a goal and expectations rising on the man acquired for a hefty fee in the close season, a massive sense of release engulfed the Emirates Stadium when Gyökeres scuffed home from close range via a deflection off David Hancko during a pulsating second half when Mikel Arteta’s side showed again that they are here to compete this season.

Stunning Reversal in Fortune

Within moments and to the delight of the stadium crowd, his Bane-inspired gesture modeled after the villain Bane in Batman, whose signature quote is “I was ignored before the mask,” was showcased again after kneeing in from Gabriel Magalhães’s header following a Declan Rice corner to seal the victory against Atlético Madrid. Down on the touchline, Arteta raised his fists and motioned emphatically in the direction of his recent signing, of whom he has spent the past two weeks insisting the best was yet to come.

“Such is soccer, and we shouldn’t anticipate a player to change contexts and have him replicate his form immediately,” the Arsenal manager stated in a discussion with the Spanish newspaper Marca before this game. “Things are very different. Every footballer globally need one thing: their state of mind to be at its best. I told Viktor in our first meeting that the No 9 I sought for Arsenal was someone who could stay resilient when they faced a goal drought without scoring. If not, you’re not suited at this tier. That’s why I have a strong confidence in him.”

Youthful Struggles

It was as a 14-year-old playing for IFK Aspudden-Tellus, who are located in Stockholm’s southside districts, that Gyökeres first understood he would have to develop a thick skin to succeed in his chosen profession. Rebuked after a disappointing display by a coach who said he was not mentally equipped to excel in top-level football, he ended up being converted from a winger into a striker after signing for Brommapojkarna two years later. “That comment resonated and I recall it now,” he said not long ago.

Challenging Spell

Having failed to score since the victory against Nottingham Forest in London back on 13 September, this has been one of the most testing periods of his time in football. Gyökeres was sharply rebuked after Sweden were beaten by Kosovo and Switzerland in World Cup qualifiers in the previous 14 days, with one newspaper labeling his display against the latter as “unnoticeable.”

He recorded an astounding 54 goals in 52 appearances throughout the season for Sporting last season, so the problem is evidently not his finishing. As the manager has often noted, his all‑round play has added a new layer in the final third, even if the openings have not come to him.

Match Highlights

This was certainly in evidence during the first half of this high‑quality encounter between two teams that had at first appeared closely contested. There was a sense that Gyökeres was pressing too much to impress as he bustled about like a force of nature during the early stages. An Eberechi Eze shot that deflected on to the bar inside the opening five minutes was set up by some sharp footwork on the edge of the Atlético area that skillfully evaded from his opponent, José María Giménez.

Giménez has the aura of a man who could start a fight in an empty bar but is deeply knowledgeable at this level compared with Gyökeres, who is competing in merely his second Champions League campaign after scoring a hat-trick for Sporting against Manchester City last season that must have gone a long way to influencing Arteta to make the move.

Unyielding Drive

However having faced scrutiny that he was out of shape after sitting out the buildup in Portugal, Arsenal’s considerably trimmer striker chased down every ball as if his life depended on it. Giménez was drawn into conceding a caution when Gyökeres ran into him on the edge of the Atlético area having simply held his position. Gabriel Martinelli saw his goal ruled out for offside after converting Bukayo Saka’s cross and it wasn’t until after the break that the Swede had his opening chance.

A sumptuous flick from Martinelli set Gyökeres up perfectly, only for Jan Oblak to promptly save an weak effort towards goal. Then it must have appeared that the breakthrough would elude him. But the dam burst when Gabriel headed home Rice’s free-kick and Gyökeres was able to take full advantage as the forward with the disguise made his mark. “With any luck this is the start of some beautiful sequences,” said a delighted Arteta.