William Saliba Hails “Scary” Gyokeres After £64m Arsenal Move

William Saliba hails scary Gyokeres as Arsenal’s new £64m frontman, praising the striker’s fearsome reputation and backing him to lead the Gunners’ title charge.

Arsenal’s summer transfer window lit up with the blockbuster signing of Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP for £64 million — and it didn’t take long for William Saliba to weigh in. Saliba hails scary Gyokeres as one of the most formidable forwards he’s faced. He praises the striker’s power, precision, and the nightmare he poses to defenders across Europe.

Speaking to reporters after Arsenal’s 3-2 pre-season win over Newcastle in Singapore, Saliba didn’t hold back in his praise for Gyokeres. “We know how good he is, it’s scary to play against him,” the French centre-back admitted, referencing their clash in last season’s Champions League. “When you face a striker who scores goals, you have to be focused. But now he’s in our team and he will score for us, so that’s good”.

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Saliba’s comments reflect both relief and excitement — relief that he no longer has to mark Gyokeres, and excitement about what the prolific forward could bring to Arsenal’s title ambitions.

Gyokeres’ Impressive Stats and Anticipation

Gyokeres arrives in North London with jaw-dropping stats: 52 goals in 54 matches last season. His clinical finishing and physical presence have earned him a reputation as one of Europe’s most feared forwards. Arsenal fans got their first glimpse of the Swede during his unveiling in Singapore, and anticipation is building ahead of his potential debut against Tottenham later this week.

Saliba didn’t just praise Gyokeres — he laid out Arsenal’s intentions for the upcoming season. “Our mindset is to win the Premier League and we will give everything from the first game,” he said, emphasizing the impact of new signings like Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, and Gyokeres.

With Arsenal finishing as runners-up in the last three seasons, the club is hungry for silverware. Saliba believes Gyokeres could be the missing piece in Mikel Arteta’s puzzle.

Beyond the excitement of new arrivals, Saliba also hinted at his own future with the club. With two years left on his current deal, he confirmed that talks are underway for a long-term extension. “There is a good conversation with my agent and the club. Let’s see,” he said.