Viktor Gyokeres has officially been unveiled as an Arsenal player, taking on the club’s iconic number 14 shirt a jersey immortalized by Thierry Henry. The Swedish striker arrives from Sporting Lisbon following a blockbuster €63 million deal, with €10 million in potential add-ons, and is expected to help end Arsenal’s long wait for Premier League glory.
With the number 9 jersey already occupied by Gabriel Jesus, Gyokeres opted for the symbolic number 14, a decision that will come with immense pressure and expectation. The shirt is deeply woven into Arsenal’s history, having been worn by Henry during his legendary spell at the club between 1999 and 2007. The Frenchman scored 221 goals and made 99 assists in 370 appearances for the Gunners, winning seven trophies, including two Premier League titles one of them as part of the “Invincibles” in 2003/04.
Gyokeres, 26, has been in red-hot form for Sporting over the past two seasons, scoring 97 goals and providing 27 assists in 102 games. His prolific output was a key factor in Arsenal’s pursuit of the forward, who is now seen as the missing piece to their attack after three consecutive second-place league finishes under Mikel Arteta.
This is not Gyokeres’ first time wearing the number 14. He briefly donned it during a loan spell at Swansea City, though that stint was far less memorable. Since then, he has blossomed into one of Europe’s most consistent goalscorers, and now, all eyes will be on him to deliver in North London.
Since Henry’s departure, the number 14 has been worn by a select few. Theo Walcott carried it from 2008 to 2017 but never lived up to the massive expectations. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had notable highs but left the club under a cloud. Most recently, Eddie Nketiah tried to make the number his own but failed to cement a regular starting role before moving to Crystal Palace.
The legacy of number 14 remains formidable, and the challenge is clear: can Viktor Gyokeres shoulder the weight of history and finally fire Arsenal to Premier League glory for the first time in over two decades?
