Henry’s legacy fuels Gyokeres’ strong revival at Arsenal

Striker Viktor Gyökeres expressed his belief that the “Arsenal number 14 shirt is always packed with goals,” following the end of his scoring drought in the emphatic 4-0 win against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League this morning (22/10).

The match at Emirates showcased an explosive performance from Mikel Arteta’s side. Arsenal scored 4 goals within just 14 minutes in the second half, completely overwhelming Diego Simeone’s team.

Gabriel Magalhães opened the scoring in the 57th minute, before Gabriel Martinelli doubled the lead with a classy finish. Then, Gyökeres ended his 9-match goalless streak across all competitions with a quick brace, helping Arsenal seal a comprehensive 4-0 victory.

The Swedish player, who inherited the legendary number 14 shirt from Thierry Henry after transferring to Arsenal from Sporting CP for 73 million euros, shared with CBS, where Henry works as a commentator: “It feels amazing. There are so many goals in this shirt. Knowing the number 14 was available, I saw it as a huge honor. We want to win trophies, that’s our biggest ambition, and I will try to contribute with my goals.”

Gyökeres also emphasized his joy at the team scoring 4 goals while keeping a clean sheet: “It’s fantastic to score 4 goals and not concede. We always play the right way, defend solidly, and take our chances well. Both of my goals were great, and I always give my all, work hard. I knew the goals would come sooner or later.”

This victory helps Arsenal maintain their impressive defensive form having conceded only 3 goals across all competitions this season. However, coach Mikel Arteta believes Gyökeres’ presence brings a new attacking dimension to Arsenal:

“I think the team has become much less predictable. He’s strong, moves intelligently, presses excellently, and holds the ball well. Today, he scored two completely different goals, which is something we’ll be talking about a lot going forward. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of a new scoring streak for him.”

With his first Champions League brace this season, Viktor Gyökeres not only “unlocked” himself but also somewhat proved he deserves the famous number 14 shirt, a symbol of one of the greatest scorers at Emirates.

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