In today's press conference, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked about the bold decision to hand the club’s iconic No. 14 shirt—famously worn by club legend Thierry Henry—to new signing Viktor Gyökeres. Arteta’s response was filled with enthusiasm, revealing his faith in the Swedish striker.
Embracing the Legacy
“I use the word conviction, and that’s the first thing that I noticed when I spoke to him,” Arteta said. “Someone very determined, someone that was already really attached to the club, the way he was talking about the club, the history, and in this case Thierry [Henry] and what the shirt represented. He straight away felt it, and when you feel it - go for it.”
Arteta’s words paint a picture of a player who not only understands the weight of the No. 14 shirt but embraces it with confidence and ambition.
Viktor Gyokeres in action at Arsenal’s open training session in Hong Kong
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) July 30, 2025
▪️Finishing ✅
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Debut vs Tottenham
When pressed on whether Gyökeres could make his debut in Arsenal’s upcoming friendly against rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Arteta remained cautiously optimistic. “I understand he’s only done today’s session and yesterday very little,” he explained. “We’re going to assess tonight how he is and if the medical staff are happy as well with his condition to participate in tomorrow’s match then it’s a possibility. We’re going to discuss that tonight.”
Arteta also provided a brief update on the squad’s fitness, adding, “And with the rest, everybody’s going to be okay apart from big Gabi (Gabriel) who is still out and Riccy (Calafiori) it’s probably going to be a bit too early for him tomorrow.”
As Arsenal prepare for the match, the focus will be on Gyökeres’ fitness and readiness. Arteta’s comments reflect a balance between eagerness to integrate the new signing and caution to protect his long-term contribution. Whether or not Gyökeres features against Spurs, his arrival and the trust placed in him with the iconic No. 14 signal a bold new chapter for Arsenal.
