Mikel Arteta provides telling response to Viktor Gyokeres question ahead of Arsenal clash​

by | Nov 26, 2024 | Sports

Arsenal will be aiming to keep Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres in their Champions League clash with the Portuguese side but Mikel Arteta has refused to talk up his abilities

​Arsenal will be aiming to keep Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres in their Champions League clash with the Portuguese side but Mikel Arteta has refused to talk up his abilities Arsenal will be aiming to keep Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres in their Champions League clash with the Portuguese side but Mikel Arteta has refused to talk up his abilities   

Mikel Arteta is a huge fan of Viktor Gyokeres – but refuses to even say the Sporting Lisbon sensation’s name.

The Swedish striker has been in scintillating form since arriving in Portugal from Coventry just under 18 months ago. He has scored 67 goals in just 69 appearances in all competitions for Sporting.

And that form has earned admiring glances from elsewhere. Manchester United have been linked and are expected to target him after swooping for his former manager Ruben Amorim.

Premier League rivals Manchester City and Arsenal are also among those reportedly interested. And while the Gunners will be aiming to tempt him to the Emirates Stadium in the future, their task is to keep the striker quiet during this week’s Champions League showdown.

Arteta has praised Gyokeres but refused to conduct a detailed analysis of his abilities, potentially in an attempt to keep his cards close to his chest. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta said: “I would like to talk about the team, about the coaches and how phenomenal they have been.

“The run they are in is incredible. I understand the question but they have a lot of individual qualities. And yes in the specific position they have great players.”

Away from Arsenal, there have already been a number of hints dropped regarding a potential move to United in the future. Ahead of his own switch to Old Trafford, Amorim confirmed a swoop for his former star was not on the immediate agenda.

Viktor Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres has been linked with a host of Premier League sides
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Image:

Getty Images)

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He said: “If I start joking about this Gyokeres situation I’ll get in trouble. This is my city, this is my country, so I’ll respect it. Viktor has to stay until the end of the season and then his life will probably go somewhere else.”

Gyokeres has also spoken out on his future. He confirmed that he had not spoken to Amorim regarding a potential reunion in Manchester.

Speaking to Fotboll Skanalen, the striker said: “He probably has some strikers there already, so we’ll see. ‘No, he hasn’t [asked me to join him]. It’s fun but nothing I attach any importance to because it’s talk and nothing concrete.”

Gyokeres is not the only current Sporting star that United have been linked with since Amorim’s move. The Red Devils are also eyeing wonderkid Geovany Quenda, while Ousmane Diomande is also reportedly on their shortlist.

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