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If Viktor Gyökeres transforms into the attacker that every Arsenal supporters have been praying for, then perhaps they will look back on this night as the point his destiny shifted. As the old striker’s mantra goes, it isn’t important how they go in.

On the back of nine matches for his team and national side without a goal and pressure mounting on the man signed for £64m in the summer, a massive sense of release washed over the Emirates Stadium when Gyökeres scuffed home from close range via a deflection off David Hancko during a pulsating second half when Mikel Arteta’s side demonstrated once more that they are here to compete this season.

Dramatic Turnaround in Fortune

Less than three minutes later and to the delight of the home faithful, his face-covering routine inspired by the character Bane in Batman, whose catchphrase is “attention came only with the disguise,” was given another airing after kneeing in from Gabriel Magalhães’s header following a Declan Rice corner to finish the demolition against Atlético Madrid. On the sidelines, Arteta raised his fists and motioned emphatically in the direction of his new centre forward, of whom he has spent the previous 14 days insisting the best was yet to come.

“That’s the game, and we can’t expect a player to change contexts and have him do the same thing instantly,” the Arsenal manager stated in a discussion with the Spanish newspaper Marca before this game. “Things are very different. All players in the world need one thing: their mental condition to be at its best. I told Viktor in our first meeting that the No 9 I sought for Arsenal was someone who could remain strong psychologically when they experienced a dry spell without scoring. Otherwise, you’re not suited at this standard. That’s why I have a great belief in him.”

Early Challenges

When he was just 14 playing for IFK Aspudden-Tellus, who are located in Stockholm’s outskirts, that Gyökeres first recognized he would have to develop a thick skin to thrive in his chosen profession. Criticised after a disappointing display by a coach who said he was not mentally equipped to make it in elite soccer, he was eventually transformed from a winger into a striker after moving to Brommapojkarna two years later. “That one stuck with me and I think about it often,” he said recently.

Difficult Phase

Goal-shy since the triumph over Nottingham Forest at home back on 13 September, this has been one of the hardest times of his professional life. Gyökeres was sharply rebuked after Sweden were beaten by Kosovo and Switzerland in World Cup qualifiers in the previous 14 days, with one newspaper describing his performance against the latter as “invisible.”

He achieved an incredible 54 goals in 52 appearances in all tournaments for Sporting last season, so the issue is evidently not his finishing. As the manager has often noted, his overall contribution has provided additional depth in the final third, even if the openings have not come to him.

Match Highlights

This was clearly apparent during the opening period of this top-level clash between two teams that had originally looked well-balanced. There was a impression that Gyökeres was pressing too much to impress as he ran aggressively like a force of nature during the beginning phase. An Eberechi Eze shot that bounced on to the bar inside the initial stages was originated from some quick moves on the edge of the Atlético area that cleverly escaped from his opponent, José María Giménez.

The Uruguayan has the air of a man who could start a fight in an empty bar but is vastly experienced at this stage compared with Gyökeres, who is participating in just his second Champions League campaign after bagging a triple for Sporting against Manchester City last season that must have gone a long way to persuading Arteta to secure the signing.

Constant Hustle

Yet having attracted criticism that he was overweight after sitting out the buildup in Portugal, Arsenal’s much more svelte-looking striker pursued each opportunity as if his life depended on it. Giménez was fooled into conceding a yellow card when Gyökeres ran into him on the edge of the Atlético area having merely stood his ground. Gabriel Martinelli saw his goal ruled out for offside after converting Bukayo Saka’s cross and it wasn’t until after the break that the Swede had his initial opportunity.

A exquisite touch from Martinelli created an ideal chance, only for Jan Oblak to swiftly block an hesitant shot towards goal. Then it must have appeared that the opening goal would not arrive. But the goals flowed when Gabriel headed home Rice’s free-kick and Gyökeres was ready to capitalize as the forward with the disguise left his imprint. “With any luck this is the commencement of a prolific period,” said a delighted Arteta.