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If Viktor Gyökeres transforms into the striker that each Arsenal followers have been praying for, then maybe they will reflect on this night as the moment his fortune changed. As the old striker’s mantra goes, it doesn’t matter how they go in.

After a run of nine matches for his team and national side without a goal and pressure mounting on the man brought in for a substantial sum in the summer, a tremendous feeling of ease swept over the Emirates Stadium when Gyökeres guided in from near distance via a deflection off David Hancko during a electrifying second half when Mikel Arteta’s side proved yet again that they mean business this season.

Stunning Reversal in Form

Shortly after and to the joy of the home faithful, his mask celebration inspired by the character Bane in Batman, whose signature quote is “nobody cared until I put on the mask,” was showcased again after kneeing in from Gabriel Magalhães’s header following a Declan Rice corner to finish the demolition against Atlético Madrid. On the sidelines, Arteta punched the air and motioned emphatically in the direction of his new centre forward, of whom he has spent the past two weeks insisting the peak performance awaited.

“This is football, and we shouldn’t anticipate a player to switch environments and have him do the same thing instantly,” the Arsenal manager remarked in a conversation with the Spanish newspaper Marca before this game. “Things are very different. Each athlete anywhere need one thing: their psychological state to be at its best. I advised Viktor in our introductory chat that the No 9 I wanted for Arsenal was someone who could remain strong psychologically when they experienced a dry spell without scoring. If not, you’re not cut out at this tier. That’s why I have a great belief in him.”

Formative Hurdles

It was as a 14-year-old playing for IFK Aspudden-Tellus, who are located in Stockholm’s southern suburbs, that Gyökeres first recognized he would have to develop a thick skin to thrive in his vocation. Criticised after a poor performance by a coach who said he was not mentally equipped to excel in elite soccer, he ended up being converted from a flank attacker into a striker after signing for Brommapojkarna two years later. “That one stuck with me and I think about it often,” he said in a recent interview.

Testing Period

Having failed to score since the victory against Nottingham Forest in London back on 13 September, this has been one of the toughest stretches of his career. Gyökeres was widely panned after Sweden were overcome by Kosovo and Switzerland in World Cup qualifiers in the last two weeks, with one newspaper describing his performance against the latter as “absent.”

He recorded an incredible 54 goals in 52 appearances in all tournaments for Sporting last season, so the issue is evidently not his goal conversion. As the manager has often noted, his all‑round play has provided additional depth in offense, even if the openings have not been in his favor.

Game Analysis

This was plainly visible during the first half of this elite matchup between two teams that had at first appeared evenly matched. There was a impression that Gyökeres was pressing too much to stand out as he charged around like a bull in a china shop during the early stages. An Eberechi Eze shot that deflected on to the bar inside the initial stages was created by some quick moves on the edge of the Atlético area that skillfully evaded from his marker, 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 participating in just his second Champions League campaign after scoring a hat-trick for Sporting against Manchester City last season that likely played a key role to convincing Arteta to secure the signing.

Constant Hustle

However having attracted criticism that he was out of shape after being absent for preparations in Portugal, Arsenal’s considerably trimmer striker harried all opponents as if his career hung in the balance. Giménez was tricked into conceding a caution when Gyökeres collided with him on the edge of the Atlético area having merely stood his ground. Gabriel Martinelli saw his attempt canceled for offside after finishing Bukayo Saka’s cross and it wasn’t until after the break that the Swede had his initial opportunity.

A exquisite touch from Martinelli provided a golden opportunity, only for Jan Oblak to swiftly block an hesitant shot towards goal. At that stage it must have appeared that the breakthrough would never come. But the goals flowed when Gabriel scored with a header Rice’s free-kick and Gyökeres was able to take full advantage as the man in the mask left his imprint. “With any luck this is the commencement of a prolific period,” said a delighted Arteta.