Viktor Gyokeres: eyes on the prize for Arsenal as he reveals his penalty technique | OneFootball

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres approaches their Champions League second leg against Atletico Madrid with a clear, consistent focus. With the tie level at 1–1 following his penalty in Spain, and a domestic brace against Fulham at the weekend, the Swedish forward’s form is peaking at a decisive stage of the season.

His two goals in the Premier League took him to 21 for the campaign, marking a fourth consecutive season in which he has surpassed the 20-goal threshold. It is a level of consistency that reflects both his role and his mindset.

“I want to score goals. So to reach that is a good thing,” he said. “The most important things are coming this month, so we’ll have to do our job and see where it gets us.”

Gyokeres’ performance in Madrid was among his most complete since arriving in the summer, combining physical presence with increased involvement in Arsenal’s build-up. He referenced that connection after Saturday’s win.

“I think I was involved a lot and got a lot of touches on the ball. That helps in performances,” he said. “We played very good football.”

The 27-year-old’s adaptation to English football has been relatively smooth in output terms, but he pointed to the off-pitch adjustment as the most significant challenge.

“The biggest challenge is to adapt and come into a new routine in a new country, because you change everything in your life,” he explained. “To adapt to that quickly and be ready for all the challenges that are coming – that’s the biggest one.”

On the pitch, his role has evolved within a forward line that now includes a fully fit Bukayo Saka. The England international’s return at the weekend added fluency to Arsenal’s attacking patterns, something Gyokeres believes benefits the collective rather than any individual.

“He was very good on Saturday,” Gyokeres said. “When he’s in that form, it’s amazing for me and for all of us. The most important thing is to know your role and adapt to the system we play, then just be myself and be at my best.”

That emphasis on clarity extends to his approach in high-pressure moments. His penalty in Madrid continued a long-standing record of success from the spot, stretching across 27 matches for club and country.

“Just don’t try to think too much,” he said when asked about his process.

Whether the tie progresses to penalties remains an open question. Gyokeres declined to elaborate on Arsenal’s preparation in that scenario, offering only a brief “no comment”.

Preparation of a different kind comes daily in training, where he regularly faces Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.

“I don’t think you can get any better centre-backs than what we have,” he said. “It’s great to train against them. They’re incredible players.”

The collective nature of Arsenal’s progress this season is a recurring theme in Gyokeres’ reflections. He highlighted both performance levels and squad cohesion as factors behind their current position.

“We are in this position for a reason we’ve done very well throughout the season,” he said. “But now everything matters in these games. It’s about doing well in them to get us over the line.”

That message aligns with the tone set by manager Mikel Arteta throughout the campaign: resilience, repetition and response to setbacks. Gyokeres acknowledged those demands when discussing how he handles scrutiny and inconsistency.

“In football you have to keep going, no matter what happens,” he said. “There are so many games and always challenges. You have to deal with them and do better in the next game.”

Arsenal return to the Emirates Stadium with the tie finely balanced and the margin for error reduced. With the tie perfectly poised at 1-1, the Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid fixtures are among the most anticipated in this season’s Champions League semi-finals. For Gyokeres, the emphasis remains unchanged – time to be a part of history.

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