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In the event that Viktor Gyökeres transforms into the striker that every Arsenal followers have been wishing for, then perhaps they will reflect on this night as the point his destiny turned around. In keeping with the timeless attacker’s creed, it makes no difference how they go in.

Following a streak 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 offseason, a massive sense of release swept over the Emirates Stadium when Gyökeres guided in from close range via a deflection off David Hancko during a pulsating second half when Mikel Arteta’s side showed again that they are here to compete this season.

Remarkable Shift in Fortune

Within moments and to the excitement of the home faithful, his face-covering routine borrowed from the character Bane in Batman, whose catchphrase is “I was ignored before the mask,” was given another airing after bundling over 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 recent signing, of whom he has spent the previous 14 days insisting the finest displays lay ahead.

“Such is soccer, and we shouldn’t anticipate a player to move leagues and have him do the same thing instantly,” the Arsenal manager stated in a discussion with the Spanish newspaper Marca before this game. “Circumstances vary greatly. Every footballer globally need one thing: their mental condition to be at its best. I informed Viktor in our introductory chat that the striker I sought for Arsenal was someone who could remain strong psychologically when they faced a goal drought without scoring. Failing that, you’re not good enough at this level. That’s why I have a great belief in him.”

Early Challenges

It was as a 14-year-old playing for IFK Aspudden-Tellus, who are situated in Stockholm’s southside districts, that Gyökeres first understood he would have to toughen up to succeed in his vocation. Admonished after a subpar outing by a coach who said he was not mentally equipped to succeed in top-level football, he was eventually transformed from a flank attacker into a striker after signing for Brommapojkarna two years later. “Those words lingered and I think about it often,” he said in a recent interview.

Difficult Phase

Having failed to score since the victory against Nottingham Forest at home back on 13 September, this has been one of the most testing periods of his time in football. Gyökeres was heavily criticised after Sweden were overcome by Kosovo and Switzerland in World Cup qualifiers in the past fortnight, with one newspaper describing his performance against the latter as “absent.”

He managed an astounding 54 goals in 52 appearances in all tournaments for Sporting last season, so the issue is obviously not his goal conversion. As Arteta has frequently pointed out, his all‑round play has added a new layer in the final third, even if the openings have not been in his favor.

Match Highlights

This was certainly in evidence during the opening period of this elite matchup between two teams that had originally looked well-balanced. There was a impression that Gyökeres was trying too hard to stand out as he ran aggressively like a bull in a china shop during the opening minutes. An Eberechi Eze shot that bounced on to the bar inside the initial stages was set up by some clever dribbling on the edge of the Atlético area that cleverly escaped from his marker, José María Giménez.

The defender has the reputation of a man who could start a fight in an empty bar but is highly seasoned at this stage compared with Gyökeres, who is participating in just his second Champions League campaign after netting three goals for Sporting against Manchester City last season that likely played a key role to convincing Arteta to make the move.

Constant Hustle

Yet having drawn comments that he was carrying a few too many pounds after being absent for preparations in Portugal, Arsenal’s much more svelte-looking striker chased down every ball as if his future was at stake. Giménez was drawn into conceding a yellow card when Gyökeres collided with him on the edge of the Atlético area having simply held his position. Gabriel Martinelli saw his effort disallowed for offside after finishing Bukayo Saka’s cross and it wasn’t until after the break that the Swede had his initial opportunity.

A brilliant pass from Martinelli set Gyökeres up perfectly, only for Jan Oblak to quickly smother an hesitant shot towards goal. Then it must have felt like the breakthrough would elude him. But the dam burst when Gabriel nodded in Rice’s free-kick and Gyökeres was ready to capitalize as the forward with the disguise left his imprint. “Hopefully this is the start of some beautiful sequences,” said a delighted Arteta.