Viktor Gyokeres Shines in Arsenal's 5-0 Victory Over Leeds with Viral Celebration
Gyokeres Makes a Statement with His Performance
In a stunning display, Viktor Gyokeres showcased his skills during Arsenal's commanding 5-0 triumph against Leeds United. His cheeky hair-flick celebration after scoring drew significant attention, seemingly addressing the criticism he faced following a lackluster performance against Manchester United. Gyokeres struggled at Old Trafford, where he was substituted early in the second half. However, he bounced back impressively, netting two goals in front of enthusiastic home fans after initially missing an opportunity. Defender Jurrien Timber also surprised everyone with a brace, while Bukayo Saka scored just before halftime. Gyokeres capped off the match with a late penalty, solidifying a dominant win for the Gunners. Nonetheless, concerns arose regarding injuries to both Saka and captain Martin Odegaard, raising questions for Mikel Arteta ahead of a crucial match against Liverpool.
When asked if his celebration was a response to the previous match's performance, Gyokeres hinted, "Might be, could be."
Viral Hair Flick Celebration
After scoring a late penalty to complete his brace, the Swedish forward turned to the camera and flicked his hair, a move many interpreted as a retort to the online backlash following his debut against Manchester United. The criticism likely stemmed from his earlier hair flick while being substituted at Old Trafford. Following the match, Arteta expressed satisfaction with Gyokeres' contributions, emphasizing the need for patience with both him and fellow newcomer Martin Zubimendi. "I’m very happy with them; they made a significant impact in the game," Arteta stated. "Some are still not at their peak, but we will reach that level."
Social media users celebrated Gyokeres' playful response, with one remarking, "Gyokeres did his hair for the camera as a celebration! He noticed the tweets after Old Trafford. My striker!" The moment quickly went viral, with fans praising it as a clever bit of trolling.
Gyokeres' Journey to Arsenal
Gyokeres was brought in to address Arsenal's need for a reliable striker after finishing second in the Premier League for three consecutive years. Previously, he was a target for Leeds during his time at Coventry in the Championship before moving to Portugal. Despite his impressive record of 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting, doubts about his ability to thrive in the Premier League lingered. However, he demonstrated his composure in front of goal with a well-placed finish from Riccardo Calafiori's pass. "We have the ability to score in various ways. There’s a lot to be excited about. It was a really positive start to the season at home," Arteta concluded.