Viktor Gyokeres’ incredible body transformation makes him ‘perfect fit’ for Arsenal, says Thierry Henry

THIERRY HENRY says Viktor Gyokeres’ incredible body transformation makes him the “perfect fit” for Arsenal.

However, the Gunners legend has urged fans to be “patient” with their new No.9 in their bid to win a first Prem title since 2004.

Viktor Gyokeres has undergone a massive body transformation over the yearsPresse Sports

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry says Gyokeres is physically ready for the PremPresse Sports

GettyHe has bulked up considerably since his Coventry days[/caption]

Boss Mikel Arteta has made Swedish striker Gyokeres his marquee signing this summer in a £63.5m deal from Sporting Lisbon.

The 27-year-old has experienced English football before – failing to make a single Prem appearance for Brighton between 2017 and 2021 before spending two years at Coventry in the Championship where he scored 40 goals in 97 outings.

Back then, Gyokeres was a raw and lean youngster learning his trade – but in a latest photo shoot, he has proved that since then he has bulked up into a goal-scoring monster, netting 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting.

And club-legend Henry said: “He already was in England, let’s not forget that. He was at Coventry, he couldn’t do it at Brighton.

“So, you can see a guy who already knows what struggling is and comes back from that. 

“He’s more confident, and you can see from his body the way he’s looked after himself, the way he’s changed.

“You have a guy that’s a killer in the box – numbers don’t lie – and you have a team that creates a lot of chances, so it should be the perfect match.”

At his luxury penthouse in Lisbon, Gyokeres had an in-built gym where he kept in shape, and revealed to SunSport last month that he spent his days sleeping, eating and working out at home while he waited for his Arsenal move to be rubber-stamped on July 26.

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One of six incomings in this transfer window, Gyokeres is viewed as the missing piece of the puzzle in Arteta’s bid to end Arsenal’s 21-year wait for the Premier League title – having finished second for three years on the spin.

Gyokeres netted his first goal for the North Londoners in their 3-0 pre-season win over Athletic Bilbao at the Emirates last weekend.

And there is huge pressure on the striker to hit the ground running in Arsenal’s Prem opener away at Manchester United on Sunday – donning Henry’s famous No.14 shirt.

But Henry – who scored a club-record 228 goals for Arsenal between 1999 and 2006, lifting two league titles in 2002 and 2004 – believes it could take time for Gyokeres to make his mark.

The Frenchman said: “It’s always unfair when I talk about a striker, it brings an unnecessary pressure because it goes above and beyond. 

“What you want is people to be patient with him, and what is annoying right now is that people are not that patient anymore. 

“They want the guy to perform straight away, score goals straight away and make us win straight away, which doesn’t happen often. Sometimes it doesn’t click straight away.

“I love when people show me what they can do, and then I can talk. Right now, people love to talk before the performance.”

Gyokeres is aiming to produce his iconic celebration a lot for Arsenal this termPRESSE SPORTS

Arteta believes Gyokeres has the aura to succeed in EnglandPRESSE SPORTS

GettyThe Swede has already given the fans a glimpse of what he can do[/caption]

Arsenal now have an imposing set of attacking options which also includes Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Leandro Trossard.

Henry continued: “I’m an Arsenal fan, I obviously hope he’s going to do well, bang goals for us, and guide us to a title, but he’s not going to do that alone. 

“We have seen that goals don’t always assure you a title. We’ve seen guys with mad numbers, but they didn’t win anything. The team around them has to be good.

“From what I’ve seen from him and how he finishes, hopefully it’s going to be a great match and we can finally go back to lift that trophy. But, a lot of teams want to lift that.”

Gyokeres was forced to go on strike at Sporting to get his Arsenal move, while cops are currently investigating a shooting and alleged blackmail plot with the relative of an agent connected to the drawn-out deal who was caught in a double blast in Stockholm, Sweden.

The spotlight is on Gyokeres after a disrupted pre-season, but Henry added: “You saw his goal against Athletic Bilbao. 

“That instinct and understanding to anticipate the cross, a great header with soft touch to guide it to the other side of the goal – he is a proper No. 9. That’s the goal of a 9.

“He is not a Firmino type of 9 that’s going to drop into midfield. He wants to be in the box, in between the posts, and he said it himself – please put the ball in the box and serve me.”

Arteta will come under huge pressure should Arsenal not lift silverware this campaign – their last trophy coming in the FA Cup in 2020 – and have a nightmare start facing United, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Newcastle in their first six games.

Speaking to Betway, Henry said: “For Arsenal, is it going to be the year? That’s what it’s going to be for the whole season. They’re going to drop points, they’re going to win games. 

“Can they do it? It’s been a thing for a very long time, but this year I think is going to be the year where something has to happen.

“If you don’t start well, questions are going to be raised straight away because of what’s been happening recently.”

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