The former coaches and teammates of Viktor Gyokeres have plenty to say in the course of time about the summer of Arsenal who will sign his Premier League debut against Manchester United later this month
Arsenal is told exactly what to expect from Viktor Gyokeres while their selection framework signs for his competitive debut for his new club. The side of Mikel Arteta-Tweede in the last three Premier League campaigns that the Swedish striker will be the missing piece of the puzzle after his £ 63.7 million move from Sporting CP.
He became one of the most feared strikers in Europe during his two years in Lisbon. It has been a remarkable journey for the 27-year-old, who played with Coventry City with Coventry City just over two years ago after a number of overwhelming loan spells.
Few from those who worked with him at the start of his career thought he would achieve what he has. But those who have worked with him over the years have cited his steel focus, dedication and hatred of losing, who will be music from everyone in Arsenal, given their incidental habit of folding at the high -pressure moments.
The competitive spirit of Gyokees does not only extend to football. According to one of his former youth coaches, Peter Kisfaludy, a game of tennis with then girlfriend Amanda Nilden-also, led a footballer to a fall-out.
Kisfaludy, who describes Gyokeres as a “Swedish Orient Express,” said to The Sun: “They went on vacation to Spain and she is really good in table tennis. They also had a game of tennis and they won so they didn't spoke for two days. They are both really bad losers.” With that in mind we look at what others have said about the behavior of Gyokees.
'No natural finisher'
His first taste of English football was in Brighton, whose manager, Chris Hughton, did not consider him a natural finisher. Hughton said: 'He was not the type that you think it will have one or two opportunities and he will put one away. But you knew he would always get opportunities.
“You knew he would do that, because he always enabled himself to get them. If you asked me then, I would see him as a player who would play at one of the top clubs in the Premier League, I would probably have to say no, more than yes.”
Hughton added: “He was a smart boy. Probably because of where he came from, his English was very good, which I think he helped. He was a very mature boy for a young one. He was a self -assured boy. I think he had a strong faith in his own capacities.
“If you are a no. 9 who goes to Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, you know you get a lot of opportunities. I don't think it will tear him.”
'Similar to Kane'
Just like Harry Kane before he broke in Tottenham, Gyokees had a series of loan spells in Brighton, with Stints in St Pauli in Germany, Swansea and Coventry.
Ryan Bennett, who played with Gyokees in Swansea and Kane in Norwich, said: “There are big similarities for me between Viktor and Harry Kane.
“Viktor did not make much start for us and was not in Swansea for long and he was a bit slow, although he had a good mentality and was determined to succeed.
“When I was in Norwich, Harry came on loan and didn't play much, so went back to Spurs. Later, when I played against Spurs and Harry was in the team, it was as if I defended against another player.
“It was the same with Viktor after he left Swansea. I played against him after he had moved to Coventry and his power was developed, his mentality was different and he was more aggressive. Like Harry he became a real top player.”
'Throw his toys out of the pram'
A permanent move to Coventry gave the career of Gyokees on his way to a first loan saying, which made him have trouble holding a regular place in the first team. Sky Blues -midfielder Ben Shaf told the athletics: “When he came, he was in and out of the team and showed a glimpse of quality.
“He signed permanently after the first loan, and he came back after he had put more muscles on and was even more physical.
“He was ruthless of how much he practiced. He would do a lot of finished exercises after the training. I remember that once in training, we did 11-V-11 and the ball was thrown into him when I played against him.
“He pinned and rolled me, and I just couldn't do anything about it. That was the first time I thought I thought,” Blimey, this is what opposition teams will feel. ” That was the first time I felt his physicality. “
His competitive nature was clear when he threw his 'toys from the pram'. Sheaf remembered: “He was always ultra -competitive in training. He would throw his toys out of the pram if we didn't win a small -sided game.
“He is a serious guy until you get to know him and he opens. He is a good boy, but he would have a fight in training, always wants to win.”
One of the greatest influences on Gyokeres's career was his manager at Coventry, Mark Robins – now the boss of Stoke City. He described the Swede as' robotic 'and added:' He is metronomic with his timing, with his pace, with everything he did. That was why he was doing so well in that relatively short space of the time, why he went on to do other things. “
Celebration Respect
It seems that gyokers can spend and take it, based on his reaction to Gabriel who mimics his goal celebration – lock his fingers to cover his face, inspired by DC Comics Villain Bane – during the defeat of Sporting's Champions League in the Emirates last season.
Gyokees took away from offense and responded with a brutal Instagram post, in which he shared a photo of himself who performed the celebration with the caption: “Always with respect.”
The couple can now look out to perform the celebration together during what Arsenal Hope will be a title -winning season, starting at Manchester United next Sunday.