'With Him, Arsenal Look Complete' - Benni McCarthy Tips Viktor Gyokeres to Deliver Premier League Success for Gunners

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has outlined why he believes Viktor Gyokeres could be the missing piece Arsenal need to mount a serious Premier League title challenge in the 2025/26 season.

Arsenal officially announced the signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon on Saturday, July 26, 2025, for a reported initial fee of £55 million, potentially rising to £64 million with add-ons.

The 27-year-old striker signed a long-term contract and took the iconic number 14 shirt. His transfer followed two highly prolific seasons with Sporting, where he scored an incredible 97 goals in 102 appearances.

With the impressive record, he helped the team win back-to-back Primeira Liga titles. In his final season with Sporting, he was the league's top scorer with 39 goals.

Benni McCarthy praised Viktor Gyokeres for his outstanding form at Sporting, describing him as a player who had been exceptional throughout his time there.

The former Manchester United coach noted that Arsenal had long been in search of a prolific striker capable of transforming them into genuine title contenders, and Viktor Gyokeres seems to fit that need.

While acknowledging that the forward has not yet delivered the number of goals many expected, Benni McCarthy pointed out that his presence adds a new and valuable dimension to Arsenal’s attack.

“At Sporting, he was unbelievable. He was incredible. Arsenal has been dying for a striker. They needed a striker to make their squad a title-winning squad,” Benni McCarthy said in an interview with Best Betting Sites.

“So far, he hasn’t scored the goals that they would have liked to, but he brings a different element to Arsenal. Without him, everybody wants to come and collect the ball short and then play intricate passes and then play their way through the opposition.”

Benni McCarthy explained that Viktor Gyokeres brings a completely different dynamic to Arsenal’s attack. He pointed out that the striker’s tendency to run in behind defences, combined with his strength, power, and surprising speed for his size, makes him a constant threat.

According to Benni McCarthy, Viktor Gyokeres’ movement forces defenders to retreat toward their own goal, creating valuable space for creative players such as Bukayo Saka to operate.

He emphasised that this ability to stretch the opposition will eventually lead to more goals, adding that with Viktor Gyokeres in the lineup, Arsenal appear to have a complete and more balanced team.

“Whereas with Gyokeres, it is completely different. He runs the other way. He goes in behind the defence and is powerful. He’s strong and is fairly quick for such a big guy,” he added.

“Him going in behind stretches the opposition and sends defenders towards their own goal. That creates more space for the creative players like Saka and Odegaard. Gyokeres stretches the opposition more, and the goals will come. With him, Arsenal look complete.”

Viktor Gyokeres has scored three goals in his first eight league appearances for Arsenal this season.