Arsenal: Mikel Arteta convinced Viktor Gyokeres is the right signing after revealing 'most important data' | OneFootball

The Swede arrives at Arsenal with the reputation as one of Europe’s most lethal strikers

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Mikel Arteta says it took one phone call to be convinced that Viktor Gyokeres was the right signing for Arsenal.

After three consecutive seasons of finishing runners-up in the Premier League, Gyokeres is seen by many as final piece in Arsenal’s jigsaw given his goalscoring record over the past two campaigns.

However, those impressive numbers didn’t solely sway Arteta into believing Gyokeres was the ideal striker signing amid strong links to Benjamin Sesko - who has since left RB Leipzig for Manchester United.

“It's it was my first phone call with him,” Arteta said. “That was the best data tell us about it. When I told him the idea that I had and I wanted to just look at his reaction, they come into ours and imagine yourself putting that shirt on, walking into a dressing room with respect is around you.

“How do you handle it? Eyes open. Like this. That's my dream. So that's a bit of data because you can have all the data, but this guy has to come in that room with that pressure into that league.

Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring his first Arsenal goal

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“And that for me, that was the most important data.

“The other data I knew is how this guy is going to behave when he comes in that pitch, with that security, with that dominance and with that arrogance almost to say, don't worry, I will do it.”

Gyokeres is in contention to make his competitive Arsenal debut against Manchester United on Sunday, meaning he could come up against his former head coach at Sporting, Ruben Amorim.