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If Viktor Gyökeres transforms into the attacker that each Arsenal followers have been praying for, then possibly they will reflect on this night as the juncture his fortune shifted. As the old striker’s mantra goes, it isn’t important how they go in.

After a run of nine matches for club and country without a goal and expectations rising on the man signed for £64m in the close season, a huge wave of relief swept over the Emirates Stadium when Gyökeres guided in from near distance via a ricochet off David Hancko during a pulsating second half when Mikel Arteta’s side demonstrated once more that they are serious contenders this season.

Remarkable Shift in Luck

Less than three minutes later and to the joy of the home faithful, his face-covering routine borrowed from the antagonist Bane in Batman, whose signature quote is “attention came only with the disguise,” was repeated once more after forcing home from Gabriel Magalhães’s header following a Declan Rice corner to complete the rout against Atlético Madrid. From the technical area, Arteta raised his fists and signaled enthusiastically in the direction of his new centre forward, of whom he has spent the previous 14 days insisting the peak performance awaited.

“Such is soccer, and we can’t expect a player to switch environments and have him do the same thing instantly,” the Arsenal manager remarked in a conversation with the Spanish newspaper Marca before this game. “Situations are not the same. Each athlete anywhere need one thing: their mental condition to be at its best. I informed Viktor in our initial discussion that the striker I sought for Arsenal was someone who could remain strong psychologically when they faced a goal drought without scoring. Otherwise, you’re not good enough at this standard. That’s why I have a strong confidence in him.”

Early Challenges

Back in his early teens playing for IFK Aspudden-Tellus, who are located in Stockholm’s southside districts, that Gyökeres first realised he would have to toughen up to make it in his chosen profession. Rebuked after a disappointing display by a coach who said he was not mentally equipped to make it in elite soccer, he ultimately switched from a winger into a striker after signing for Brommapojkarna two years later. “That comment resonated and I think about it often,” he said not long ago.

Testing Period

Without a goal since the victory against Nottingham Forest at home back on 13 September, this has been one of the most testing periods of his career. Gyökeres was sharply rebuked after Sweden were overcome by Kosovo and Switzerland in World Cup qualifiers in the last two weeks, with one newspaper describing his performance against the latter as “unnoticeable.”

He recorded an incredible 54 goals in 52 appearances in all tournaments for Sporting last season, so the issue is evidently not his goal conversion. As Arteta has frequently pointed out, his overall contribution has added a new layer in the final third, even if the openings have not been in his favor.

Game Analysis

This was certainly in evidence during the opening period of this elite matchup between two teams that had at first appeared well-balanced. There was a impression that Gyökeres was pressing too much to stand out as he ran aggressively like a bull in a china shop during the opening minutes. An Eberechi Eze shot that deflected on to the bar inside the first few moments was originated from some sharp footwork on the edge of the Atlético area that niftily took him away from his opponent, José María Giménez.

The Uruguayan has the air of a man who could create tension effortlessly but is deeply knowledgeable at this level compared with Gyökeres, who is playing in only his second Champions League campaign after scoring a hat-trick for Sporting against Manchester City last season that must have gone a long way to persuading Arteta to take the plunge.

Relentless Effort

Nevertheless having faced scrutiny that he was out of shape after missing most of pre-season in Portugal, Arsenal’s much more svelte-looking striker chased down every ball as if his career hung in the balance. Giménez was tricked into conceding a booking when Gyökeres made contact on the edge of the Atlético area having only been stationary. Gabriel Martinelli saw his attempt canceled for offside after finishing Bukayo Saka’s cross and it only came in the second half that the Swede had his opening chance.

A sumptuous flick from Martinelli provided a golden opportunity, only for Jan Oblak to quickly smother an weak effort towards goal. At that point it must have appeared that the breakthrough would never come. But the floodgates opened when Gabriel scored with a header Rice’s free-kick and Gyökeres was ready to capitalize as the man in the mask made his mark. “Ideally this is the beginning of a great run,” said a delighted Arteta.