Viktor Gyokeres is entering the biggest phase of his career and it could coincide with Arsenal’s biggest season in decades. The Swede became the chosen centre-forward for the club after weeks of discussions across multiple targets.
He was firmly a favourite of Andrea Berta, and when Arsenal decided to make their move, those inside the club were aligned on him being the best option. He was signed for his experience and style, but most of all for the volume of goals he scores.
It will therefore be a mission given to him by Arteta to score as many as he feasibly can. After scoring 39 in the Portuguese League last season, expectations among the fan base are very high indeed and he only missed out on the European golden boot trophy because the division he played him earned him fewer points that Kylian Mbappe, who plays in La Liga.
The Frenchman took the title with 31 goals for Real Madrid, giving him 62 points in the standings, whereas Gyokeres earned 58.5 points. Two points are given for a goal in one of Europe’s top five leagues, with 1.5 points earned for the Portuguese League.
Arsenal have only had one Premier League golden boot winner in the last 12 years. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shared the trophy with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane with 22 goals in 2018/19.
In the 12 years before that, the Gunners had the winning player on five occasions. Robin van Persie in 2011/12, and Thierry Henry winning it for four other seasons between 2001/02 and 2005/06.
Gyokeres is certainly seen as Arsenal’s best potential chance of winning the boot this season. He will face the likes of Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak, and, of course, Salah.
While new strikers have also entered the league, with more potentially on their way. This includes Benjamin Sesko, who is being chased by both Manchester United and Newcastle United. Joao Pedro has had a strong pre-season for Chelsea while other candidates like Ollie Watkins, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Chris Wood will be backing themselves to challenge too.
The average over the last five seasons has been 27.6 goals scored by the Golden Boot winners. However, the average over the last three seasons is 30.7 goals and it might be that if Gyokeres wants to win he will have to break into the 30s yet again.
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