The striker could be the final piece of the puzzle to end the club’s silverware drought
Arsenal’s quest to end their six-year trophy drought has received a significant boost with the arrival of striker Viktor Gyokeres, and defender William Saliba is confident that the new signing will be the key to delivering silverware to the Emirates.
The Gunners secured Gyokeres in a £64million deal from Sporting Portugal, where the Swedish striker enjoyed two prolific seasons, establishing himself as one of Europe’s most lethal forwards. The 26-year-old is poised to make his debut for Arsenal against rivals Tottenham during the club’s pre-season tour of Asia, marking the start of what fans hope will be a transformative chapter for the team.
Saliba, who faced Gyokeres in last season’s Champions League, knows firsthand the challenge of containing the forward’s goal-scoring prowess. Speaking to reporters, the French defender expressed his excitement about the signing, describing Gyokeres as a “scary” opponent due to his clinical finishing. “We know how good he is, it’s scary to play against him,” Saliba said. “Of course, I’m so happy to have him in my club, and I’m sure that he will help us to win games and win trophies.”
The 23-year-old centre-back, a cornerstone of Arsenal’s defense, believes Gyokeres’s arrival could be the final piece of the puzzle for Mikel Arteta’s side, which has come agonizingly close to Premier League glory in recent seasons. “Every year is different. We have to learn from the last three seasons,” Saliba added. “We are lucky to have a chance to compete in the Premier League again to try to win. Our mindset is to win the Premier League, and we will give everything from the first game.”
Gyokeres’s integration into the squad comes at a crucial time as Arsenal aim to build on their progress under Arteta. The Gunners have bolstered their squad with several new additions this summer, and Saliba is optimistic about their collective impact. “We have a lot of new players, and they will hopefully help us to win this league,” he said.
As Gyokeres settles into life at Arsenal, his early days have been spent bonding with his new teammates, with the upcoming Tottenham clash offering a first glimpse of his potential in red and white. For Saliba, the message is clear: with Gyokeres leading the line, Arsenal’s trophy drought is firmly in their sights.